With the summer season in full swing, it’s the perfect time to ensure your landscape is healthy, vibrant, and well-maintained. With the right care and attention, you can create a stunning outdoor space that will be the envy of your neighborhood. From pest control to sustainable watering habits, here are some key landscaping tips for the summer season.
1. Water Correctly
Graphic courtesy of theyardandgarden.com.
Adequate watering is crucial for the health of your plants during the hot summer months. The best way to make sure your plants have enough water is to water them less frequently, but more deeply… And at the right time of day!
The best time to water is in the early morning. This will keep your plants cooler during the hottest part of the day. Watering during the afternoon can result in evaporation and a waste of water, while watering at night can leave your lawn and plants prone to more pests and diseases.
One effective watering technique you can adopt is drip irrigation. Drip irrigation is a more sustainable way to water your plants, as a slow drip won’t run off or evaporate.
2. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch
When it comes to keeping your plants from drying out, mulch is your best defense against the blazing heat of the summer months. Putting down a layer of organic mulch will slow the evaporation of water, decrease the soil temperature, and deter weed growth.
One important thing to note about wood mulch: While it offers many benefits for your gardens, mulch can attract wood-loving pests like termites and carpenter ants. To protect your home from these pests, build a 2-foot buffer around the perimeter of your home to keep wood mulch away from your exterior walls.
3. Lawn Care
When it comes to mowing your lawn, most people want to mow the grass as low as possible so they have to do the chore as little as possible. However, mowing high can help protect your lawn from drying out. Taller grass requires less fertilizer, stays green for longer, and helps shade the soil.
Along with mowing your lawn correctly, make sure you’re giving it the right nutrients. Timely applications of summer lawn fertilizer can help give your grass a boost to grow strong and healthy throughout the rest of the season. Properly applied, summer lawn fertilizer sets your lawn up to successfully withstand heat and drought conditions.
It’s best to opt out of spraying weeds after late July, so if you’re seeing weeds in your lawn or garden beds, stay on top of them by pulling them out manually. If all else fails, you can spot-treat summer weeds with post-emergent herbicide. (For more summer lawn care tips, check out our other blog here!)
4. Lightly Prune Trees & Shrubs
Normally you’d want to prune during the dormant season, but as with anything else, there are exceptions. While trees and shrubs can add a wealth of beauty to your landscape, they can also attract quite a few pests. To minimize the presence of unwelcome insects, make sure you remove any dead branches of your trees and shrubs as you find them.
5. Pay Attention To Patio Plants
Nothing makes a patio look more inviting than a variety of vibrant potted plants! Whether your patio is sporting colorful flowers or fragrant herbs, make sure you’re following their specific care instructions when it comes to watering them and giving them the proper amount of sun exposure.
Potted plants generally need to be watered more than in-ground plants, sometimes up to twice a day. And did you know you can add mulch to your potted plants? This will help them retain moisture throughout those hot summer days! If you notice that your flowers aren’t doing so well, consider adding a bit of fertilizer, checking for pests, or reassessing their position on the patio.
Summer Landscaping Tips: Seasonal Considerations
While Spring and Fall are usually the task-heavy seasons of landscaping, there are some things to keep in mind when caring for your landscape during the summer season. Evaporation is always a concern with the hot weather, so regularly inspect and repair leaks in irrigation systems to prevent water waste. Additionally, pests and diseases thrive during the warmer months, so make it a habit to check your plants regularly for bugs or unusual spots on leaves and treat them accordingly.
3 Reasons To Hire Professional Landscaping Services
Sure, you could do it all yourself… But why would you, when there are some key benefits to hiring a professional?
- Expertise and Knowledge: Professional landscapers have extensive knowledge of plants, soil conditions, and landscaping techniques. They can provide personalized recommendations and create a customized plan for your unique landscape.
- Saves Time: Landscaping requires consistent effort and time commitment. By hiring professionals, you can free up your schedule and spend your time on fun summer activities while ensuring your landscape receives the care it deserves.
- Quality Results: Professionals use industry-standard equipment, time-tested techniques, and high-quality materials to get the highest quality results.
Leave It To The Pros and McDonough
At McDonough Landscaping, we are passionate about creating beautiful landscapes. With our team of skilled professionals and a commitment to excellence, we offer a wide range of services, including landscape design, retaining wall installation, maintenance, and more.
Looking for someone to handle your summer landscaping needs? McDonough’s got you covered! Contact us today through our website, or call us at (651)755-7901 to schedule a mid summer clean-up (including our weed control services!) and let us maintain your outdoor summer sanctuary all season long!