Summer is a great time of year. The days are longer, the sun is shining and the weather is nice. Great for those that love to soak up the sunshine, not so great for our gardens.
It seems that the sunshine and warm weather not only affects people, but also our gardens too. The grass can look a little lighter in colour and the flowers may start to wilt. So how can you make sure that your garden looks beautiful throughout the summer months?
Here are the 5 steps to keeping your garden looking as fresh as it did in the Spring.
Spread that mulch
It might not be the most appealing of jobs to do in the garden, but getting dirty and spreading mulch can be one of the best things that you do during the summer. You are aiming for around a 2inch deep layer, which blankets the ground and shields the soil from the sun. Not only does this prevent moisture loss, but it also keeps the soil cooler and your roots happier!
Water when it is cool
Watering your garden is important during the summer, as it makes sure that your lawn and your plants are well hydrated, despite the fact that rain could be on the way. It is a good idea to try and water the garden in the morning, as this not only is much cooler, which means that the water will be absorbed. But it also gives enough time to allow the water to be absorbed before the night comes around, which could leave it with mildew and fungi.
Look after your new plants
If you have decided to plant some summer blooms in the garden, then you are going to need to ensure that they are protected from the sun. Just like people, new seeds need some time to harden up the sun, this means that you need to limit how much sun they get. Aim to shelter them with a leafy branch or an old net curtain for the first week or so, as this means that they still get some of that amazing sunshine, without you worrying about damaging them.
Remove any flowers past their best
Deadheading flowers may seem a little on the cruel side, but it is actually a process which means that your plant will focus on producing new blooms rather than lots of new seeds. It isn’t particularly tricky to do and is a job that you can plan in once the sun has set and it is a little on the cooler side.
Don’t be tempted to mow too much
It might make sense to you to try and keep the lawn nice and trim. However, when it comes to lawn care, overmowing can can lead to scalping, when the grass turns from a lush green colour into a brown, bare and weed infested mess. The aim instead is to mow a lawn on the highest setting possible. Not only does this longer grass last better, but it also acts as a suppressant for some of the weeds that might be otherwise tempted to pop up.
Hopefully these 5 tips will help you to keep your lawn looking beautiful during the summer months. Meaning that you can sit out there and enjoy it for as long as the weather holds out.
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