Summer is fast approaching. Get your garden ready with this checklist.
MULCH IN
2 inches deep layer of spread out mulch atop your soil will be the best part you can give your plants this summer. The mulch acts as a blanket to your soil that keeps it covered from the sun. This also prevents moisture loss and keep the roots cooler and happier.
Are you worried about what type of mulch to use?
Stop worrying about it. Anything that is made of organic materials such as shredded woods, pine straw, and even a mix of grass clippings and shredded leaves will do. Stick to organic materials to keep your soil cool.
WEED OUT
Weeds are a pest for your plants, and summer is the time these pesky weeds love the most. Pulling out weeds is important for your garden because they snatch the moisture from your plant, as well as the nutrients. They also invite insect pests and diseases to your garden.
So, if you don’t want any of these unwanted visitors lurking in your garden… its time to do the weeding.
Start weeding while the weeds are still young and small. Thus, don’t wait until these weeds grow in height. Save yourself from a lot of future weeding by doing it the earlier time.
ADD SOME COLORS WITH SUMMER ANNUALS and SUMMER-BLOOMING BULBS
Does your garden lack color? This is the time for you to add some color to it.
As soon as summer heat arrives, various type of spring-blooming annuals fade. You can make your garden colorful and lively by pulling out the faded plants and replace them with heat lover plants like:
Angelonia
Ageratum
Lantana
Pentas
Coleus
Portulaca
Sweet potato vine
Salvia
Zinnia
Use your organic plant markers and labels to identify these plants. Shop online, today.
TWEAK MUMS and OTHER LATE PERENNIALS
Tweaking an inch or two of the top of your mums and other late perennial plants makes them more compact and sturdy. Do this up to the fourth of July to help them last longer.
PULL OUT FADED FLOWERS
Pulling out dead flowers (deadheading) can save you in the future. These spent blooms can self-seed and becomes a weed in the garden. So pulling them out earlier is beneficial for you and your garden
WATCH OUT FOR PESTS
Like weeds, pests are also particular in the mid-summer, so keep an eye on them. Not just summer but all year out this must be done. Thus, do watch out for these common mid-summer troubles:
- Black Spot
- Grasshoppers
- Rust
- Cucumber Beetles
- Powder Mildew
- Japanese Beetles
- Tomato hornworms
- Squash Bugs
WATER
Summer is hot as we all know. Thus it is important to keep your plants hydrated.
When watering your plants, directly water onto the soil rather than the plant’s foliage, as this may only result to plant diseases.
How much water should you give your plants?
It’s recommended to apply an inch of water a week. Pour this in one big chunk to help encourage the plant’s roots to sink down deep into the soil.
Do not be afraid of playing creatively with your garden. Just make sure to give your plants the proper care and you’ll be surprised by the beauty it will bring you.
Happy gardening!
