Get Your Garden Summer Ready

The year is flying by. Before we know it will be on a summer break. Summer breaks are best spent outdoors. Get ahead of your job list with these tips so you can spend your break enjoying your garden not working on it.

SPRING CLEAN

As spring comes to an end, it’s the perfect time to tidy up your garden. First thing to get on top of is your weeding. Weeds tend to grow much quicker in the lead up to Summer as the seeds will spread unless they’re kept under control.

Then, tidy any dead foliage and give the beds a general clean up. Lastly, pruning will help reduce the amount of stress your plants will endure during summer.

NUTRIENTS BOOST

To stimulate growth, you will need at apply a fertiliser to feed your plants and correct any mineral deficiencies before the heat sets in.

It’s best to fertilise before you mulch as this will help lock in the nutrients. You can use a slow release fertiliser throughout the year that will release the nutrients gradually helping your garden sustain the weather.

LAY DOWN MULCH

Laying down mulch is one of the most effective measures you can take to help protect your                    garden in summer. Mulch will keep the soil moist and cool as well as slow down weed growth.

Help your garden by mulching to about 10 centimetres thick and keeping it away from the base of your plants.

EARLY WATERING

When watering your plants on warmer days, make sure you do so early in the morning. This allows for the water to soak in before evaporating in the heat. Also, leaving the leaves wet at night can increase the risk of fungal diseases.

If you don’t have an automatic watering system in your garden getting one before summer would be very advantageous.

PLAN FOR SHADE

If you can shielding your plants from the harsh sun will be beneficial. Planning for extra shade could include planting establish trees or shrubs or building a pergola.

A more money conscious solution would be to use a removable shade cloth to shelter plats that are vulnerable to the heat, such as freshly planted seedlings or vegetables. This way they can become established before the summer heat gets to them.

If you have potted plants move them to the most shaded area of your garden and stand them in a saucer of moist sand. This will reduce the impact of heat stress by keeping the roots cool.

LAWN CARE

One unsightly down fall of summer can be a dry and brown lawn. To promote a lush, green lawn avoid cutting it too short as longer turf tends to wear better. Lawn fertiliser can also do a lot of good during summer.

If you need help applying these tips in your garden, we have many skilled and professional gardeners who can help you achieve the best outcome this summer. Call us on 13 11 98.