Summer is here, our hot weather appears to have finally arrived,
and it’s time to perk up your garden.
Summer is here, our hot weather appears to have finally arrived, and it’s time to perk up your garden.
Yes, I know you think you know all there is to summer yard and garden maintenance.
You obviously have to water a little more and mow your lawn on a regular basis, but there are a few other tips that can help your garden continue to thrive and look good throughout the warm weather.
For instance, did you know that you can still plant flowers and vegetables in your garden anew this time of year?
Thanks to our local climate, which allows us to garden frost-free until practically November, there’s still time to get new crops in. Now the question: flowers, vegetables or both?
Taking flowers first, you can add entire new varieties of impatiens, petunias, marigolds, salvia, geraniums and more.
If you want to stray from the ordinary, consider lobelia, asters or celosia. All are quick growing, and the latter two can also be cut and brought indoors for quick-cut flowers.
As for vegetables, it’s too late to start new tomatoes, squash and cucumbers. But there are plenty of quick growing row crops that can even be planted by seed this time of year.
We’re talking about leafy vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce and cabbage, or things like peas, beans and other legumes.
When planting anything this time of year, make sure to add plenty of organic compost in the planting area and build raised soil basins to deep water individual plants.
Also don’t forget to mulch. Use redwood soil conditioner, top dressing, so-called “gorilla” hair or any organic compost as a mulch over bare garden dirt.
The mulch not only will look better than plain old dirt, but will hold moisture in by preventing evaporation and even help prevent some weed seeds from germinating. A two-inch layer of mulch is recommended.
Other summer gardening checklist items include:
n Continue to cut off or “deadhead” spent flowers. Pinching or cutting off dead blooms will force your flowers into putting their energy into blooming more rather than going to seed.
n Be vigilant by monitoring your garden for pests and diseases. An observant gardener can catch insect or disease problems before they become serious and destroy any element of the garden. Aphids can be knocked off roses and killed by a strong burst of plain water if caught early enough.
n Take a look throughout your garden and consider staking plants or vegetables that need support. Stakes or wire cages will keep plants and fruits off the ground so you’ll get better looking flowers and fruits, with fewer chances of diseases or insect problems.
