Summer Garden And Lawn Care: Summer Gardening Tips

The Aussie summer season can be hard on your garden. The harsh summer sun affects soil moisture, leading to plants drying. Then there are the occasional storms that bring pouring rain. But summer is also the most productive time for plenty of plants (such as flowering plants or leafy greens).

You'll need to take extra care of your summer garden. The biggest challenge is keeping soil cool and moist, especially in garden beds. One strategy is to water early in the day when the temperature is cooler. Alternatively, set up an automated watering system that waters morning and/or night. Mulch well to help retain moisture, and mow your grass as high as possible.

In need of summer gardening tips? Here's how to maintain your garden—all summer long.

Mulch well

Using organic matter such as grass clippings can prevent dry soil by locking moisture into the ground. Just make sure you mulchafteryou water your garden—that way, you'll help trap the moisture in the soil. Then, you can do one final spray to settle the mulch afterwards.

You can also opt to fertilise your lawn to get your plants growing after winter. Choose a "no-burn", slow-release formulation to promote slow, strong growth. This will help your plants and grass better survive drought.

Water early

Watering early has several benefits, but in particular, you prevent the water from evaporating too quickly. The heat in the late morning to early afternoon will cause water to vaporise much faster than it does in the cooler times of the day.

If you'd rather not do the work yourself—especially mid-summer, when it's hottest—keep your summer garden moist with an irrigation system. There are automated irrigation systems like sprinklers that can be set to water your garden at optimal times.

Mow high

Brown and bare lawns are a sign of scalping—mowing your lawn too low. Long grass wears better and helps suppress weeds. So in the summer months, keep your lawn long by cutting as high as you can to help your soil stay cool.

Check potted plants

Potted plants—especially ones in stone, concrete, or terracotta pots—are vulnerable to overheating. The pot insulates the soil, trapping in heat and drying out the dirt. Move any container plantings to the shade, and shelter any garden pots from the western sun.

To help the soil, water deeply, then allow the pot to drain. Constantly check the earth to see if it's hard and cracking—that means it's too dry.

Conserve water

Especially in the summer, it's essential to conserve water—even if it's tempting to give your summer garden extra watering. Keep your irrigation system free of blockages and your hose free of holes. Clear gutters of debris to ensure run-off flows to collection tanks. Water well but not too much—puddles can attract mosquitoes and other unwanted visitors!

Prevent pests

Lawn grubs are very common during Australian springs and summers. There are both root-feeding and surface-dwelling grubs, which can cause your plants and grass to deteriorate. There are several pesticides available for lawn grub treatment. But if you want a more natural solution, choose a product with neem oil extract.

Prevent lawn grubs from infesting by watering and fertilising appropriately.

Work wisely

When you're working on your summer gardening, stay safe! Your garden needs plenty of care, but so do you. These summer gardening tips won't matter if you suffer heatstroke.

Do your gardening during the cooler parts of the day—before 10:00 AM and after 4:00 PM. You'll be more efficient if you're not trying to endure the harsh summer sunlight. Drink plenty, use sunscreen, and wear a hat if you're able. Gardens aren't the only things that need to stay cool!

Lawn and garden care is much more complicated during the hotter months. These summer gardening tips should help you maintain your garden all the way to late summer, when the weather starts to cool. This way, you'll have a healthy and thriving garden—with all the colour and vibrance you could ask for.