Summer Garden Care
While the wait for spring time planting is at the forefront of every gardener's minds during the dreary final months of winter, summer is the crowning moment of all the waiting during the winter and the preparation of the spring. So don’t let all your hard work and waiting go to waste this summer by failing to take proper care of your plants throughout the hot summer days.
Some of the most important factors during the summer season are to make sure that you don’t over or under water your plants, protecting them from drowning or being fried by the hot summer sun. Making sure to take care of fertilizing and preventing pests from eating the greenery in your garden also plays an important role in protecting your garden. Finally you’ll want to maintain the health of the garden through little things like pruning.
When & Why to Water
While it may seem simple, watering is quite obviously the most important part of gardening. While the other parts that we touch on will certainly improve the beauty and yield of your garden, this is critical to the very survival of your plants. However, this crucial part of the gardening process is also incredibly easy.
When To Water
Watering should usually be done in either the morning or later in the evening. This strategy will make sure the water is dried up quickly in the heat, instead the plants will be able to make the most of the water that they receive. While the morning is preferable for this so that they won’t dry out during the day, you are also able to water them at night for comparable effects.
Watering should usually be done in either the morning or later in the evening.
Make sure that you don’t completely drown your plants to start. Your plants will certainly not enjoy being over watered. The soil should be completely damp when you are finished watering, but not water-logged. This technique will allow you to maximize your garden’s hydration, without over or under-watering.
Make sure if you are using an outdoor planter that the bottom of the container has drainage holes for any extra water to work its way through the base of the planter. For plants that are placed in locations that might be prone to water damage, look for planters that come with a drip tray. These drip trays are standard to all H Potter tall outdoor planters, so take a look at them here.
Fertilizing Frenzy
Fertilizer is another important part of the gardening equation to maintain summer growth. Begin by choosing a fertilizer that will work well for the plants you have chosen to grow in your garden. Different types of fertilizers will be added to the soil in different amounts, and you will likely be able to choose between organic or chemical fertilizers. Fertilizer will add the extra nutrients to the soil that your plants will need as they continue to grow.
Advice For Planters
For container planting, fertilizer is particularly important. The smaller amount of soil that is present in these planters results in the soil not being able to replenish the nutrients for ideal plant growth as fast as if the plants were planted directly into the ground. This makes fertilizer a must for summer maintenance of outdoor planters.
For container planting, fertilizer is particularly important.
However, fertilizer with many of its natural or artificial chemical components can be harmful to the finish of a planter. Make sure that the fertilizer is in the soil and make sure to limit the amount of fertilizer that might spill onto the outside of the planter. This will make sure that your planter will maintain its decorative abilities while still being a perfect growing space for flowers and other foliage.
Deadhead/Trim/Prune
Deadheading or trimming your plants throughout the summer will help your plants to thrive throughout the summer. First of all, no one wants to look at a tall planter that is full of dead flowers or blooms. Secondly, make sure that you deadhead these remaining blooms to allow for new flowers and blooms throughout the summer. The lack of dead flowers in your box will increase the beauty of the plants in your planter and allow for new beauty to grow.
make sure that you deadhead these remaining blooms to allow for new flowers and blooms throughout the summer
Encouraging Growth
Trimming and pruning will be important to encourage growth and new branches throughout the planter. As branches get old and stop producing as many foliage or as many flowers, prune away the old to make way for new green growth. Make sure that your planter does not just become a mass of foliage through these techniques, and prepare your planter to be a bright explosion of color in your outdoor spaces.
Pest Control
One of the most unfortunate things that can happen to a gardener during the summer is the arrival of pests that can absolutely destroy all the hard work that was done during the spring. Taking care of your plants to prevent this can often be based on the infestation that could occur, and the region or climate that the gardener is in. However, there are a few absolutes when it comes to protecting your plants from further infestation.
One of the most unfortunate things that can happen to a gardener during the summer is the arrival of pests
Thoughtful Control
Start by occasionally checking under the leaves of your plants. This technique will allow you to catch any abnormalities that may be from the presence of an invasive pest, or the pest itself may be under the leaves. Secondly if you are at a high risk, neem oil and insecticidal soap are fantastic options that are not only good options but are safe for organic gardening.
We hope this article has been helpful to all those gardeners who are beginning their gardening journey with the rest of us this spring. Remember to take all the gardening seasons seriously as preparing, maintaining or growing seasons will all play into the success of your gardening endeavors!