Now that summer is here, your lawn and garden probably need some extra attention. Here’s our easy summer gardening checklist to help your plants flourish.
Garden
- Water your plants regularly. Plants will start to need more water as the temperatures increase and also as they start to flower and produce fruit.
- It’s important to apply fungicides early before you see evidence of diseases. We like using Broad Spectrum Fungicide and Copper Fungicide.
- Fertilize your plants again either in late June or early July. Using Espoma Garden Food is a great choice for long lasting fertilizer.
Perennials
- Deadhead any plants that have finished flowering to promote more blooms if they are a rebloomer.
- Water plants on a regular basis, especially if there is little rain.
Trees and Shrubs
- Lilacs and other early spring bloomers should be trimmed now and completed before the 4th of July. Trimming after that point will take the flower buds off for next year resulting in no flowers for the year.
- Water all trees and shrubs if we continue to have dry conditions. Slow, deep watering is the best method to get moisture deep into the profile. Lack of water will decrease the vigor for next year.
- Mulch your plants to keep the roots cool. Hydrangeas and clematis will especially benefit from this.
Lawn
- During this heat and low amounts of rainfall you may be tempted to fertlilze your lawn to promote growth. Unless you are watering regularly, we would not suggest this. Your cool season lawn will start to go into dormancy with these high temps which is a normal response. It is a good idea to still water your lawn when it is still in dormancy to keep the roots alive. Not watering could kill the entire plant.
- It is also time to start applying Kill a Grub II. This product will have to be watered into the soil profile to be effective.
Please note when making any pesticide or fertilizer application to not apply when the temps are high. This can damage plants that are desired.
