Your Summer Garden Checklist
Contributed by Jolene Ottosen for the Chaparral Green Thumbs
People often think of spring and fall as the busy months for gardeners, who get to spend the summer just enjoying the fruits of their labour. In some ways this is true, but the reality is that there is always work for those that want their yards and gardens to look their best.
Here is a checklist of the most important summer tasks:
Mulch – Ideally you mulched your plants in the spring, but summer is when the plants need it the most to help keep moisture from evaporating in the heat, so check your beds to make sure you have at least an inch and add more if you do not have enough.
Deadhead flowers often – Even though a bloom looks faded or even dried up, as long as it is attached to the plant it is preventing the plant from putting its full energy into the production of new blooms, so the longer those old blooms stay on the plant, the less they flower overall. Similarly, pinch off the blooms you see on plants you don’t want flowering, like herbs, to keep them out of reproductive mode where they can become woody and bitter.
Pick your produce clean – Make sure to pick all produce as soon as it ripens as this encourages more production and higher yields by allowing the plant to put its energy into new fruit.
Watch for pests like slugs, aphids, ants, and the red lily beetle – A few pests are easier to deal with than a full infestation, so be diligent in watching for them.
Remove excess vegetation that might make an inviting home for pests like voles – While voles are not dangerous animals, they can be destructive by chewing at roots and bark, potentially killing plants, as well as leaving unpleasant tunnel systems in your lawn. If you have a compost pile, turn and water it often, as untended compost piles make an ideal home for voles and mice. If you already have a problem with voles, you can try purchasing coyote urine to spray around your garden; attracting predators, such as owls, by installing a nesting box; looking into live trapping for only a few voles; or perhaps contacting a pest control company if the infestation is large.
Water well – In the summer heat your yard and garden need water, but watering less often and longer allows for healthier root systems and better drought tolerance. Whenever possible, water in the morning, and water your plants from the ground level, not from above.
Weed often – Weeds can grow quickly in the summer heat and go to seed which leads to more weeds, so weed often. The job is easiest when the weeds are young, and the soil is moist. Weeds like dandelions have long tap roots that you want to make sure to get all of. Personally, I find that a long garden knife helps with this. I have a colleague who just uses kitchen knives, but you would not be popular in my household if I caught you doing that! Garden knives are usually stronger too.
Mow properly – Mowing is one of the more time-consuming summer yard tasks, so perhaps you could consider leaving it a little longer to protect the grass. Longer grass provides natural shade for its roots. Also, when you mow, try to alternate mowing patterns to avoid creating strips or ruts.
Fertilize – Plants will use a lot of nutrients in the spring when they grow the most, so a summer top up is a good idea. Remember that natural fertilizers like compost or worm castings promotes stronger plants, rather than synthetic nitrogen.
Remove any dead plants – Plants can die for a variety of reasons like pests, disease, or winterkill, but regardless of the reason, it is important to remove the plant quickly to ensure you are not allowing anything to spread to other plants. If the plant died as a result of pests or disease, ensure you dispose of it properly and not in your compost bin where you risk further spreading of the problem.
Fill in empty or faded spots – If you end up with empty spots from plants you had to remove or spring plants that are finished or just past their glory, don’t be afraid to perk up the space with annuals.
Try succession planting – After your lettuce bolts or you have picked your radishes, considering planting another crop. Check seed packs to see how much time you need, but cool weather crops like spinach and lettuce don’t need that much time, and kale can survive quite far into the fall.
Divide bearded irises – If you have bearded irises, they should be divided every 3 to 4 years and they are dormant in the summer.
I hope these ideas help you to prioritize your summer gardening tasks and allow you to get the most out of your yard and garden. Happy gardening!
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