Top Tips For Gardening During The Summer

Summer is typically one of the favorite times of year for a lot of people. Many have fond memories as a kid running through sprinklers and even having water balloon fights. Summer brings a lot of sunshine and smiles. However, it also brings unique challenges for garden upkeep. The success of maintaining your garden in the summer is heavily dependent on available soil moisture.

The summer is well known for having droughts with no rain. This, combined with excess heat, can present a lot of unique challenges. When plants or pot mixes don’t have adequate moisture, things can get tricky.

To get the most out of your garden, you’ll want to utilize some of the tips from Thetreecenter.com.

1. Soil Preparation

One of the most important things you need to do when you are looking to prep your garden for the hot summer months is to do some soil preparation. Soil preparation can dictate the success or failure of your garden. You need to prep your soil months in advance to keep it thriving throughout the warm and even hot months. The only way you get high-quality soil is through this preparation otherwise it can dry out. Quality prepped soil can help increase water retention which is necessary during the hot months with prolonged sun exposure. One of the best ways to prep your soil for the hot months is by adding quality organic matter through compost, mulch, or manure. 

If you are going to be doing gardening in pots, you want to use a high-quality potting mix. Anything too cheap is likely going to deliver poor results. A quality mix can help the plant retain essential nutrients within the plant’s roots. This can help the plant maintain healthy roots and support growth.

2. Give Your Garden A Soak

When it comes to keeping your garden healthy in the summer, water is everything. Effective and efficient watering is crucial during the summer months because plants need to retain water for optimal health. It would help if you tried to water more efficiently when the weather is drying. The best time to water plants in the middle of summer is during the cooler periods throughout the day. Try to do your watering in the early morning when the sun won’t be drying it out. You also want to leverage the use of organic mulch and composts to keep excess moisture in the garden. 

As mentioned, the best time to water your plants when it’s scorching outside is in the morning. This is ideal because it’s going to reduce the risk of mildew growth. You want to avoid periods in the mid-afternoon and at night. Also, you want to adhere to all of the local government’s rules and regulations for water use.

3. Feed It

Not only does your garden require water to keep it healthy, but it also needs to be fed. You need to feed your garden to keep all of the plants and vegetables healthy. Giving your garden sufficient food can help it become much more resilient to the excessive heat it will be exposed to throughout the summer. You want your garden to be able to withstand the stresses it will face during the hotter periods throughout the summer months.

Ideally, you should be feeding it with a controlled release of either dry or liquid fertilizers. This is a good way to promote healthier roots and stronger plants. It’s also good for boosting the strength of the plant’s cell walls which helps it retain even more water.

4. Keep It Cool

You need to try to minimize the exposure to excessive heat. If there is an area that is constantly exposed to excessive and direct sunlight throughout the day, try to incorporate shade or Garden Screening of luxuryscreens.co.uk into your garden design. A good way to do this with potted plants is by simply moving them during the day. You could always move them to a shaded part of your backyard. If you cannot move the plants, you’ll want to pay extra attention to them. Try to water them more frequently to keep the soil well moistened to avoid having the soil dry out.

5. Add More Mulch

Mulch is the easiest way to keep your garden’s soil cooler in the summer months. You want mulch because it will cover the coil which not only helps the soil retain more moisture but also decreases the amount of evaporation that occurs. This can help you avoid having to water your garden so frequently and it can make your plants healthier in the long run.

You want to use organic mulch because it will add further micronutrients to your soil when it breakdown. This can make it a win-win for using with your soil because it helps your soil both now and in the future.

6. Plant The Right Stuff

You want to be certain that you are planting the right stuff during the summer. The summer months are a great time to grow some vegetables. You’ll find a lot of vegetables are easier to maintain in the summer months. This includes tomatoes, cucumbers, and even salad greens.

If you want flowers and plants, you can opt for orchids, ferns, and other plants that thrive in summer conditions.

7. Take Care Of Yourself

The summer months in Australia can bring excessive heat. This can cause you to get dehydrated when you are outside caring for your garden. Try to stay as cool as possible when doing so. You can do this by spending time outside only during the periods throughout the day when there is more shade. Ideally, you want to stay out of the sun from 10 in the morning to 4 pm. Also, try to cover and protect your skin with clothing, hats, and sunglasses. Always wear high-quality SPF sunscreen to protect your skin when you’ll be spending time outdoors.