5 summer gardening tips you need to know for your garden to flourish
28 May 2021After a very wet and dreary May, it’s time to dig out the garden furniture and paddling pool from the shed with the warmer weather finally on its way. As we start to venture outside and look to enjoy our gardens once again, you need to start thinking about how to get the most from your new build garden. The heat on our backs is nice, but it can be damaging to the garden landscape if you don’t give your garden some TLC. Read on to discover our top five summer gardening tips you need to know for your garden to flourish:
1. Hello weeds!
When the sun has its hat on, the weeds come out to say hello! Now is the time to check for weeds in your garden, particularly in your beautiful borders that you have worked so hard on. It’s easier to weed after it has rained, and the soil is nice and moist. To prevent the weeds from returning, try adding some mulch. Of course, you can also use a weed killer but be careful which products you choose as they can be dangerous, particularly if you have children and pets in your household. Look at the warning label on the product before you buy it as many will say whether they are pet-friendly or not.
2. Hydration is key
We all know that British summertime can be temperamental, but if we are lucky enough to experience a spell of dry weather, make sure to water your plants and lawn regularly. The best time to wander around with your watering can is early morning or late evening when it’s cool. Giving your plants a drink at this time allows the water to sink down into the soil and reach the roots of your plants before any moisture is lost through evaporation.
3. Start pruning now
June is the time to start pruning your spring flowering shrubs such as Philadelphus, Weigela and Ribes (Flowering Currant). Look at these plants and prune off growth that has just finished flowering. You will want to prune it right down to an outward facing bud along with any damaged or crossing branches which should be removed. You should also be using the next few weeks to dead head your plants. This will keep your garden looking neat, bright and colourful, ready for you to show off to your guests.
4. Support your tall plants
The summer is when some plants really do come into their own and start to show off. Some will become very tall, putting them in danger of snapping in high winds. To avoid your leggy plants becoming damaged, support them with canes or twine. This can be done either individually or as a group. If you’re feeling creative, get down to your local steel stockholder and pick up some 6mm steel rods. These will last much longer than canes, so you won’t have to keep replacing them.
5. Don’t forget the lawn
Many of us will focus on getting our flowers and shrubs to flourish during summer. After all, they are the showstoppers, but don’t forget your lawn. A luscious green lawn can really finish off the look of your garden, so you need to take care of it during these warmer months. Watering your lawn is important when it is dry but try not to saturate it. Once or twice a week is enough. When it comes to mowing, do this once or twice a week, keeping the grass length to about one inch. If you cut it too short, this will encourage weed growth and moss so don’t be tempted! Finally, adding a little lawn feed won’t do your grass any harm during the summer months. Your lawn will be using up all the nutrients in the soil so you can boost the nutrient intake by adding some good quality grass feed.
We hope you found our top five summer gardening tips useful. Proud of your own garden? We’d love to see your photos of how you have made your garden at your Devonshire Home your own. Send us your photos via social media. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.