Top 5 summer gardening tips
Summer gardening can be a delightful but demanding experience.
The season brings an explosion of blooms, bustling wildlife, and abundant harvests. But to make sure your garden thrives during the warmer months, we’ve compiled our top 5 summer gardening tips.
1. Avoid overwatering
Overwatering is one of the most common gardening mistakes, particularly during the summer, when the instinct is to compensate for the heat by increasing watering frequency.
However, too much water can be detrimental to plants. Overwatering can lead to issues like root rot and reduced oxygen availability in the soil.
Signs that your plants are overwatered include limp, yellowing leaves and wilting despite ample water. While this might seem counterintuitive, it occurs because waterlogged roots can no longer absorb water effectively.
Plants require a balance of water and air in the soil; excessive water fills up air spaces, suffocating the roots and preventing them from functioning properly.
To maintain plant health, you should establish a regular watering routine: the best practice is to water your plants early in the morning.
Early morning watering allows plants to absorb moisture before the heat of the day and reduces the risk of fungal diseases that can occur when leaves remain wet overnight.
Watering in the early morning also ensures that excess water can evaporate, thereby reducing the risk of waterlogging. During the summer, you should make a habit of checking your soil moisture.
One quick and easy method is placing your finger into the soil at a depth of around an inch. Soil that still feels moist at this depth does not need hydration. However, if it feels dry, watering will be beneficial. For more precise results, gardeners can invest in a soil moisture metre.
Aim to water deeply and less frequently rather than giving small amounts of water more often: this method encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil and can make your plants more drought-resistant.
2. Allow your lawn to flourish
Letting your lawn flourish during the summer season can be vital to the local ecosystem. Not only are you creating a more vibrant, resilient lawn for your garden, but holding off on mowing can provide sanctuary for various insects and wildlife.
Longer grass supports biodiversity by offering a habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies, as well as other insects like chinch bugs and worms (which are crucial for a healthy ecosystem!)
It also encourages the growth of wildflowers and native grasses: these plants can offer nectar and pollen for insects.
For instance, flowers like red clover and common knapweed are excellent for attracting pollinators, while grasses left to grow taller will produce seeds that feed birds and small mammals.
Having a longer lawn is also better suited to withstand periods of drought. By raising the cutting height of your mower, you allow the grass to develop deeper roots, which helps it to stay green and healthy even in dry conditions.
Gardeners should also remember that, in summer, your garden will likely experience heightened levels of footfall (e.g., barbecues and other fun outdoor gatherings!)
Keeping a well-maintained but slightly longer lawn can better withstand this increased use, remaining lush and resilient underfoot.
The extra length in the grass blades helps cushion the soil and reduce compaction, which can otherwise damage the lawn's health and appearance.
3. Cut back plants
The best way to craft a healthy, happy summer garden is to cut back your plants. Trimming perennials during this season helps maintain their vitality and encourages robust growth. But why?
Well, cutting back your plants stimulates a second round of blooms. Deadheading, or removing spent flowers, prevents plants from wasting energy on seed production and instead channels it into developing new buds and flowers.
Practising deheading is particularly beneficial for plants like Echinacea, Rudbeckia, and Coreopsis, which respond well to regular trimming by producing more blooms.
Cutting back certain perennials can help prevent them from becoming leggy or flopping over, which often happens as they grow taller.
Techniques like the "Chelsea Chop," where plants are cut back by one-third to one-half of their height in late spring to early summer, can keep them compact and upright.
Another advantage of summer pruning is that it can improve your garden’s overall look. Plants like geraniums and Artemisia, which may look untidy after their initial flowering, benefit from a hard trim that encourages fresh, healthy foliage.
4. Get on top of weeds!
Summer is an ideal time to tackle weeds in your garden. As the weather warms up, many weeds grow more vigorously (meaning they need to be addressed before they cause a hostile takeover!)
Weeds compete with your plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight, which can hinder the growth and health of foliage. By removing weeds, you guarantee your garden plants have the resources they need to thrive.
De-weeding your garden in summer is an excellent method of pest prevention. Weeds are a haven for slugs and snails, which love to feed on your plant material.
Weeds can also carry diseases (e.g., harmful pathogens, fungi and viruses) that can then transfer to your garden plants.
Summer weeding can even help manage the seed bank in your soil. Many weeds produce seeds prolifically, which can lead to future infestations if not controlled. By removing weeds before they set seed, you can significantly reduce their presence in later seasons.
5. Keep your patio/gardening shed tidy!
What better time to keep your garden spaces looking good and functional than summer? Having a tidy garden shed and patio can make all your summer gardening chores much smoother.
You’ll fly through your summer checklist by using wall hooks, shelving units, and storage bins to organise supplies. With a tidy shed, you can reduce the time spent searching for tools and more time enjoying your garden!
If you’re someone who uses summer as the time to host garden parties and gatherings with friends, keeping your patio free from debris can make your outdoor space all the more liveable.
By regularly sweeping and washing your patio’s surface (as well as using patio furniture covers), you can protect your patio from the elements and extend the lifespan of your furniture.
- Daniel Corlett
