Things to Know When Summer Gardening

If you’re just getting started in gardening, and you started your garden in the spring, then your garden’s first summer is approaching. Summers everywhere are known to be hot. Will your garden survive it?

To help you, this article has 5 summer gardening tips, related to how you’re going to help your garden survive the summer heat.

1. When Are You Watering?

Plants need water, some more than others. But did you know that too much water can ruin your summer gardening plans by robbing the roots of oxygen and contribute to fungi growth in the soil.

Experts believe that general summer watering should take place during the cooler hours of the day, morning and evening. Watering in the afternoon does no good for the roots, as the water is going to evaporate before it gets to them.

So don’t water just because your plant “looks thirsty.” Learn how to water at the right times, and be patient. Try to have a watering regiment and use a garden tool organizer to help you along the way.

2. “Mulch” Ado About Gardening

This isn’t one of those ordinary summer garden tricks. Putting mulch around your plants will do two things. One, it will insulate them from the heat and cold. Two, it will help keep your plant’s soil moist.

Here are a few mulch materials you can use that won’t cost you a cent:

• Straw
• Pine needles
• Leaves
• Grass clippings

If you want to keep your summer gardening plans on track, then mulch is your garden’s “shade tree”, and the thicker the better.

3. Does Your Garden Have It Made in the “Shade”?

Plants do need sunlight, but when temps get into the 90’s, certain plants, including vegetables like peppers and tomatoes, stop flowering.

You need to find a way to shade those plants during the extreme heat. If an umbrella will do the job, use it. Otherwise, maybe you can spread a large sheet over the area needing shade.

Yes, this is a huge balancing act. However, the efforts you make to keep that balance will keep your plants healthy, and make gardening in hot weather enjoyable.

4. Keep Your “Cool”

Some people may be inclined to use any old water, even warm or hot water, to quench their plants’ thirst. This is not a good idea. Hot water stresses the plants.

Run the warm, stale water out of your garden hose and give your plants cool water. You may want to store your garden hose in a shady spot as well.

5. Go Deep

Every plant or vegetable has an ideal time of year to be planted, but what if you’re late getting to it? Or what if you have year-round warm weather?

In either of these cases, you should plant your seeds deeper than what might be recommended. This will keep the seeds farther below the hotter surface, protecting the future seedling from heat stress.

Summary

The summer heat doesn’t have to “burn” your chances of keeping a thriving garden. If you follow these 5 tips, your garden will most certainly survive the summer heat.