I was two years old when I planted my first seed. I followed my dad to the garden on the family farm with my little tools, ready to work. We didn't have tractors or machines; everything was done by hand. The harvest fed my family, while the herbs and spices I helped my mom plant seasoned our home-cooked meals. The table is where we all gathered as a family and expressed our gratitude for the fruits of our labor. It's because of these memories that I have a special love for things that grow. This lifestyle also taught me the value of hard work and getting my hands dirty. The weather forecast says the next 10 days, the temperature will be in the 90s, which reminded me of some valuable tips for late-summer lawn and garden care.
Lots and lots of water. The hot summer sun can really take a toll on your vegetation. You'll need to water your plants well at least once a week. Give them a deep watering rather than multiple spritzes. This will help your vegetation develop strong, deep, root systems. During prolonged periods of hot weather, you may want to water every five days.
Mulch this. It's a good time to assess the condition of your mulch beds. You need at least a couple inches of mulch to help protect your beautiful plants and shrubs against erosion and heat. If your beds have gotten thin, now's a good time to re-mulch.
...And trim that. Now's the time to trim and shape your shrubs to keep them healthy and well-maintained. Don't let them get too big. Also, if your perennials have started to wilt or die, you'll want to trim back those sections. It will give your landscape a cleaner look and help the overall health of the plant when it blooms again next Spring.
Hold the fertilizer. During hot spells, plants are already under stress. Fertilizer will only exacerbate the effects of heat and drought on weakened plants. It will burn the roots or foliage. Hold off until late fall, and remember to give your plants plenty of water when you do add fertilizer.
Ditch the weeds. Cleaning the weeds out of your landscape or garden not only helps improve the appearance, but can benefit your perennials. The less competition for water and light, the healthier your plants will be. To avoid physical stress on your body, plan your weeding in the morning before it gets hot. Then, you have all afternoon to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Apart from these tips, if you could use a hand in the yard or garden, give me a call. I'm always happy to help. - Justin 502-758-2396
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