Summer has arrived and for a lot of us, that means long, hot days in the garden. Before you get too exhausted or overwhelmed, consider these 7 easy tips for having a beautiful and happy summer garden!
TIP # 1 – BE WISE WITH YOUR WATER
Make sure to keep your garden beds cool and moist by adding plenty of organic mulch around the base of your vegetables, herbs, and flowers. This will also greatly help reduce unwanted weeds from coming up.
Whenever possible, use drip irrigation, and water close to the base of the plant. If using sprinklers or wands, water as early or as late in the day as possible to avoid evaporation.
During the day, avoid splashing water on the leaves as it can sometimes cause them to burn in the hot temperatures.
TIP # 2 – KEEP YOUR COOL SEASON CROPS SHADED
Cool-season crops can generally only take between 3-6 hours of sun per day. If you still have some spring veggies in the ground you can keep them from bolting by adding shade cloth over them, or if they are in containers you can move them to a location with more shade.
Some of these crops might include: Arugula, Asparagus, Beets, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Garlic, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Parsnips, Peas, Potatoes, Radishes, Rhubarb, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Swiss Chard, and Turnips.
TIP # 3 – FRESHEN UP YOUR DECK OR PATIO
Summer should be enjoyed! Take pride in your outdoor space by making it a comfortable gathering place for friends and family. Consider adding a new patio set, or painting an old one!
Add a festive shade umbrella, new pillows or an outdoor rug. Compliment your outdoor gathering space with a container garden full of
fresh culinary herbs! These will not only come into use while cooking up your favorite dishes, but some of them can actually help
deter mosquitos!
TIP # 4 – KEEP THE POLLINATORS HAPPY
Insects, hummingbirds and bees all play a crucial part in healthy vegetable gardens. Make sure you incorporate plenty of
native plants and flowers to help attract these pollinators into your garden.
STEP # 5 – START A GARDEN JOURNAL
If you didn’t start a journal during your spring plantings, make sure you start one now! Begin recording things like what you’re growing, and dates you harvest.
You can purchase a small food scale, and document the size of all of your harvests! You can also include beautiful photographs, or other important information such as problems with the weather or pests that you may encounter through the summer months.
Use your garden journal in the future as a reference for what worked in years past or what didn’t to avoid making the same garden mistakes twice.
TIP # 6 – PLAN YOUR FALL AND WINTER GARDEN
Use the internet to do plenty of research for what designs might best suit your needs. When you’re ready to start planting, check out this
planting calendar to find out when it’s safe to start planting your
fall/winter crops for your exact grow zone.
TIP # 7 – ENJOY THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR
It’s summer, so don’t forget to kick back and relax! Enjoy your beautiful gardens and be proud of all of the hard work you have put in.
TIP 1– Soft, pouch-type containers are best for shallow roots like herbs, onions and succulents. Plants such as strawberries, lettuces and bushy veggies such as peppers like a larger, more rigid container. Tomatoes do best in large pots with some kind of support, like a cage.