Gardening Tips for Summer: 5 Easy Steps
Do hot summer days turn you away from gardening? Don’t put the shovel down until you work your way through my gardening tips for summer.
Most people want a beautiful garden to call their own. The only problem is that you may stop putting in the efforts in summer due to other activities that seem to take over.
That’s because the secret to keep a fresh lively garden lies in the care and hard work you put in each day. You can’t expect it to grow well if you lay off the work on hot days.
So I suggest that you push up your sleeves and get to work! But, first try and figure out the best times for your location to work in the comfort and cool of the day.
5 Simple yet Essential Gardening Tips for Summer
1. Beat the Heat
Did you know? Terracotta pots are prone to get overheated when the temperature starts soaring.
I learned this fact the hard way when my beautiful pansies started wilting in the heat. The overheated pots are no less than ovens for your fragile plants.
Apart from these unfavorable conditions, we’ve got the sun sucking away the moisture from your plants.
All of these things cause them to suffer badly.
Spare your Flower Pots for Hot Summer Heat
- Strategically place smaller plants under a shady spot
- Make sure your potted plants don’t face the western sun
- Water them regularly and thoroughly
- Keep them in a sand bath ( i.e. a saucer/bowl that is filled with moistened sand)
Now that you terra cotta pots are cooled off, how about you? To stay cool, plan on doing your most strenuous chores in the cool of the mornings preferably before 8 o’clock. Water in the evening or early mornings to help prepare your plants for the heat of the day.
Watering in the early morning gives ample time for your plants to soak up the necessary moisture so they can withstand the hot sun!
Try a French Watering Can for easy hand watering where you need it!
2. Shrug Off that Dead Weight
Summertime is a haven for creepy crawlies….
They’ve got the heat and all that greenery to thrive on. To add to the nuisance, you end up with a lot of rotten vegetation in this unforgivable weather. That means your garden is offering up fresh breeding grounds for the pesky pests.
Therefore, it’s essential for you to clear off the debris (e.g. twigs, weeds, dead leaves) before it starts getting infested. The trick is to spot the problem early and then eradicate it. I usually survey my gardens weekly to prevent critters from settling in.
Make sure to wear good gloves when clearing off all this debris and weeds. I love my Kinco Buffalo Hide Work Gloves for all heavy types of work.
You may also like to know how to keep chipmunks out of your gardens!
3. Fertilize | Fertilize | Fertilize |
This is one of most important gardening tips for summer!
I swore off chemically-laden fertilizers ages ago and so should you. The best way to fertilize your plants is by using organic ways to nourish them.
This includes options like manure, and compost using the homegrown methods. Consider using a liquid fertilizer like homemade compost tea.
Not only do these types of more natural fertilizer help maintain your garden’s fertility, some of them are a countermeasure to keep the pests at bay by keeping your plants super healthy!
I think organic fertilizers are the best!
And, also consider using safer alternatives to chemical fertilizer.
- Mardi Gras Blend Bean
- Price: $3.55
- Golden Acre Cabbage
- Price: $3.55
- Waltham 29 Broccoli
- Price: $3.55
- Napoli F1 Carrot
- Price: $3.55
- Improved Rainbow Blend Chard
- Price: $3.55
- French Breakfast Radish
- Price: $3.55
4. Mulch Matters
I have noticed that many guides for gardening for beginners leave out mulching techniques in their books. This is a grievous mistake because mulch is really beneficial for our growing gardens. The benefits of mulching include:
- Conserving water
- Preventing weeds from growing
- Blocking access points for pests like in Finding Your Best Garden Spot
- Fertilizing your soil
Investing time into adding mulch helps insure you will have better results.
5. Dress for Success
Gardening might be a hobby but it does come with its own dress code. So if you’re an avid gardener like me, then you should get your hands on some gardening gear.
I can vouch for the fact that the right tools and attire makes gardening all the more easier. So apart from the essential shovels, hoes and spade your gardening gear should include:
- A wide-brimmed hat/visor or cowboy hat to keep the sun out
- Sturdy sensible footwear
- Comfortable clothes
- Protective gloves
- Protect Your Garden Knees with the Very Best Iron Side Knee Sleeves! This are tried & true!!!
All in all, you should be prepared to get your hand dirty this summer.
Plus: 4 Wonderful Ways to Improve Your Garden Soil
Gardening Tips for Summer Takeaways:
In the end, you need to water, mulch, weed out and nourish your plants. This is the only action plan that can support your garden’s growth during the long summer days. So stop procrastinating and start breaking ground.
Also, Consider developing a Crop Rotation Plan for your own garden!