After completing spring cleanups and refreshing garden mulch, many homeowners tend to overlook further maintenance for their landscape as summer approaches. Spring’s arrival is often celebrated as a gift, and it’s easy to relax and enjoy the blooming flowers, growing grass, and flourishing trees and shrubs.
However, as seasons change, so does plant behavior. Before you know it, blooms fade, weeds multiply, and you’re left wondering what went wrong. To stay ahead of these changes and ensure your garden thrives throughout the summer, it’s essential to take proactive steps.
No need to stress if you’re not a seasoned gardener – these 10 steps to prep your garden for summer are straightforward to follow. Simply tackle each one, and your garden will be ready to impress when you entertain friends and family this summer.
1.Refresh Your Tools for a Pristine Garden
Achieving a flawless garden doesn’t require expensive machinery; simplicity and tidiness are key. Before embarking on your quest for the ideal summer garden, ensure you have the necessary tools in hand. If you already possess the essential equipment, maintaining cleanliness is paramount. Wash metal tools like spades and rakes with water and a stiff brush to prevent the spread of diseases that can harm your plants. After cleaning, remember to apply oil to prevent rusting and prolong the lifespan of your gardening tools.
2.Trimming Trees and Shrubs
Take out your recently sharpened pruning shears and start by eliminating any dead or damaged branches from your shrubs. If desired, you can also shape up your evergreens like boxwood and arborvitae, and make precise cuts at a 45-degree angle, just above a healthy bud or lateral branch, maintaining the natural shape and size of them while removing unwanted growth. It’s the perfect time to prune shrubs that blossom on new growth, such as panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata). However, hold off on pruning roses until after their buds start to swell to avoid any damage from a late frost. Avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs like azaleas, forsythia, and lilacs, as this could remove this year’s flower buds. Instead, prune them after they’ve finished blooming.
3.Harvesting Spring Fruits
Spring is typically the time when many fruits and vegetables ripen, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, and more. Harvesting these fruits on time ensures their freshness and deliciousness, while also allowing plants to redirect energy towards producing more fruits. To harvest these spring fruits, gently pick ripe ones using scissors or fingers to avoid damaging the plants. This not only protects your plants from diseases and pests but also sets the stage for better conditions for new growth in summer.
4.Prepare Your Garden Beds
Remove any debris from your garden beds, including fallen branches, tangled leaves, and last year’s foliage. Discard any outdated or rotting fruits. Trim back all perennials left from winter, such as ornamental grasses, and ensure there are no hiding spots for pests like slugs. Emphasize the importance of maintaining garden cleanliness to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. Additionally, now is an opportune time to clear debris from ponds or water features.
5.Weed Control
Summer is prime time for weeds to flourish, competing with your desired plants for nutrients and water. Take proactive measures to control weeds by regularly hand-pulling them or using organic mulch to suppress their growth. For stubborn weeds, consider using targeted herbicides, being careful to follow label instructions, and minimizing environmental impact.
6.Beat the Heat
Before the scorching heat of summer arrives, whether tending to your garden in an outdoor setting or within the shelter of a greenhouse or plastic tunnel, it’s essential to address three critical factors: shading, airflow, and heat control.
Shading is paramount. Proper shading during hot seasons helps alleviate the heat stress on plants, preventing damage from overexposure. This can be achieved by setting up sails, shade cloth, or utilizing tree canopies to provide shade within the garden.
Next, good airflow is crucial for regulating temperature and humidity. Ensure sufficient space within the garden for air to circulate freely, keeping it fresh. This can be achieved through strategic plant layout and maintaining open areas around the garden.
Lastly, focus on heat quality. In the sweltering summer heat, soil can quickly dry out, potentially affecting plant health and growth. Therefore, regular watering and ensuring soil remains moist are crucial. Additionally, covering the soil surface to reduce water evaporation is a wise choice.
7.Planting Colorful Flowers Before Summer
For a garden that bursts with vibrant hues, flowers are indispensable. To make your garden blossom beautifully in the summer, planting flowers in the spring is essential. Locate a suitable spot in your garden, dig a small hole, place the seeds in the soil, and water them regularly, even if it rains. By planting seeds in the spring, your flowers will flourish and be in full bloom by the time summer arrives.
8.Transferring Indoor Plants Outdoors
As part of preparing your garden for the summer, one crucial task is relocating indoor plants to the outdoors. Transitioning indoor plants to the outdoor environment allows them to benefit from natural sunlight, fresh air, and ample space to thrive. Before moving your indoor plants outside, it’s important to acclimate them gradually to the outdoor conditions. Start by placing them in a shaded area outdoors for a few hours each day, gradually increasing their exposure to sunlight over a week or two. Ensure the outdoor location provides suitable conditions for each plant species in terms of sunlight, temperature, and moisture levels. By gradually introducing your indoor plants to the outdoor environment, you can help them adapt and flourish in their new surroundings, enhancing the beauty and vitality of your garden for the summer season.
9.Inspect Your Irrigation System
Ensure that all components of your watering system, including hoses, sprinklers, drip lines, and irrigation controllers, are in good working condition. Check for any leaks, clogs, or damaged parts that may impede the proper functioning of the system. Clean or replace any clogged nozzles or filters to ensure even water distribution. Adjust the watering schedule and duration based on seasonal weather patterns and the specific needs of your plants. Proper maintenance and adjustment of your irrigation system will help ensure that your garden receives adequate water throughout the summer months, promoting healthy plant growth and vibrant blooms.
10.Create Your Autumn Vegetable Garden
When planning your autumn vegetable garden, it’s essential to consider the transition from warm-season to cool-season crops. While warm-season vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, cucumbers, and summer squash thrive in the heat of summer, they often begin to decline as temperatures cool in the fall.
Start by assessing your garden space and selecting suitable crops for the fall season. Cool-season vegetables, including broccoli, carrots, kohlrabi, lettuce, and spinach, are excellent choices for autumn planting. These crops tolerate cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours, making them ideal for late-season gardening.
When planting your autumn vegetables, follow spacing guidelines to allow proper airflow and room for growth. Consider using raised beds or containers if space is limited or if you prefer a more manageable gardening setup.