Tips To Care For Your Garden In Summer
As we bid farewell to the cozy winter gatherings around the heater and say hello to the cooler, summertime is the best time for nature to thrive. The beautiful part about the transition from winter to summer is that we get to witness the beautiful part of nature as birds sing and make flowering plants their home. However, for a garden to present that heavenly view, there are important routines every successful gardener does on a regular basis. In this post, we share the top tips to care for your garden in summer. Read on.
1) Fertilize the crop
Plants thrive when they are planted in a spot with fertile soil, this allows them to develop fruits and flowers. You can make compost at your place or buy premade fertilizer to fertilize the soil. Also, keep to the premade fertilizer application quantity as this can damage your soil and plants.
2) Perennial plants
While some plants (non-perennial) only blossom in specific seasons, perennial plants blossom more than they do in other seasons. Perennial plants have an integrated root system which makes them resistant to heat. And most of them have shorter roots that also pose a risk to dry up. So it is essential to water plants on a more frequent basis, like every morning and evening.
3) Potted Plants
If you have a small garden on your balcony or in your home, you need to move your plants to an area where they can have enough sunlight. But, too much sunlight will damage your plants. Dark-colored and plastic pots tend to overheat causing the plants to dry out. So you have to move your plants from direct sunlight on scorching days.
4) Irrigation System
Water remains the source of life, so for an outdoor garden, you must have a perfect irrigation system. Check and repair, or replace irrigation pipes with leaks. If you have just started your garden and have small plants, you must make farrows so that all your plants will receive water.
5) Protection
Transplanted and newly emerged plants are vulnerable to extreme sunlight and rainfall. To protect the plants from harsh weather conditions, you need to erect structures that will protect your plants. Create a shade by tying protective thin covers on metal supports over the plants. You can also use the shade from other tall plants in the garden such as hedges and trees.
6) Mulching
In summer, the air has less humidity which means that evaporation rates are high. Humans and animals drink more water, and so do plants require more water too. It becomes monotonous to water the plants. Mulching is a great solution to keep plants hydrated as it covers the soil around plants, it traps water in the soil. It comprises bark pieces and straw. This gives you a bit of relief from the routine morning and evening watering. And reduces the growth of weeds in your garden. Mulching can also be added to potted plants.
7) Rainwater
Rain completes nature’s ecosystem, it saves gardeners and farmers from the enduring irrigation process. It also replenishes water reservoirs for watering plants on dry days. So you need to check if your rainwater harvesting equipment is well set. If you are planning to start a garden you need to invest in rainwater harvesting equipment.
8) Pruning
A plant with many branches and leaves will struggle to grow and reach its potential when it has a lot of branches and leaves to support. It will not grow taller but becomes a stunted plant. Plants lose a lot of water during the hot summer days because it has many parts that are giving off the water due to evaporation. Pruning is the best way to ensure your plants grow to their maximum capacity. The process is about cutting off damaged branches and branches on the lower part so that an ample amount of nutrients and water reaches the top branches of plants.
Now that you know the top tips to care for your garden in summer, get your flowering plants, gardening boots, and equipment in place. You can also ask florists for the best plant recommendations according to your geographical location and soil type.
