End of Summer Gardening To-Do List
The end of the season is nearly here and your beautiful garden has made it through some tough heat. However, we’re getting into some of the hottest months, and you want to be sure you give your garden every opportunity to stay happy and healthy. Read our latest blog for an end of summer gardening to-do list that will keep your garden looking sensational.
Water
Water, water, and more water! During the dog days of summer, the heat and sun can really take a toll on your plants. Make sure you’re still giving your garden a deep watering (around 1 inch) once a week during this time. This ensures your plants develop deeper, stronger root systems that will keep them healthy through these trying times. However, during really hot weather, you may need to deep-water your plants every five days, rather than every seven so keep an eye on those temperatures.
Cutting Back & Tidying
If you have brown or wilting sections in your garden, this is a good time to prune! After clearing away these spots, give extra water to encourage new growth. Don’t be discouraged if your plant doesn’t bounce back right away; pruning your plants back in late summer or fall will pay big dividends next spring! At this time, you can also “deadhead” your flower-y plants to tidy up the look of your garden. This is the act of removing dead or wilting blooms from the plant. Be aware that if you do end up deadheading your plants, you may discourage birds from visiting your yard.
Less Fertilizer
Late summer is not a great time to fertilize, so hold off on that. Most plants are already suffering from heat stress or drought conditions, and fertilizer is not going to help in these conditions. In fact, if you do add fertilizer to plants that are weakened by heat and drought, you could burn the roots or foliage. Instead, focus on giving your plants the water they need and wait to fertilize until the fall.
More Mulch
This is the perfect time of year to inspect the mulch layer around your plants and in your walkways. You want at least a couple of inches of mulch in order to make sure you’re effectively protecting against erosion and heat. If you find your mulch layer has dwindled over the past few months, make sure to get it back up to scratch.
Weeding
If your garden is looking a bit scraggly or crowded, you could probably benefit from a good, long weeding session! Removing weeds not only improves the look, it can also be beneficial to your perennials, since they won’t have to compete with the weeds for sun and water. Of course, we highly recommend you plan your weeding session for the early morning or late evening in order to avoid the killer heat.
With these steps, you’re sure to keep your garden in tip-top shape well into the fall months. Be sure to keep an eye on that water, clean up the weeds, and get some protective mulch so you don’t have to worry about that heat! For more tips and tricks around the house, follow SkyHomes’ blog series!
