When the dog days of summer hit, your landscape can take a beating. Hot sun, high temperatures and long periods without rain can damage or even kill your flowers, vegetables, trees, and shrubs. Below we share some tips for keeping your landscaping looking great, even in high heat.
New Plants
If you planted new flowers, shrubs, grasses or trees recently, they will require frequent watering in order to establish roots. During the heat of summer, inspect your new plants and water every 1 to 3 days. It is difficult to over-water plants that are in the ground, but be careful with plants in containers. Be sure there is adequate draining in potted planters to help avoid root rot. When watering by hand, be sure to water long enough to soak the soil deeply. Not watering long enough will only soak the top of the soil, leaving the roots dry. If you are using a drip irrigation system, rather than increasing the frequency of watering, increase the duration to reach deeply into the soil.
It is a good idea to water your plants twice. First soak the soil surrounding the plants, then wait 5 or 10 minutes and water again. When dry soil is watered the first time, underground there may be areas that the water goes around and does not soak in, leaving dry pockets. Repeating the process can help reach those areas.
Be sure that your plants are well surrounded by mulch or landscape rocks. This layer of “insulation” will help keep the soil beneath it moist in high heat and direct sunlight.
Established Plants
Plants that are well established have roots that reach far into the soil, tapping into moist soil well below the surface. However, during heat waves and long dry spells, they may still require watering. You may not need to water as frequently as your new plants, however do be sure to water them for a good length of time. Because roots run deep with established plants, you will need to be sure you’re soaking the soil deep enough to reach them. Keep an eye on your established plants for signs of distress such as wilting and brown spots.
As with new plants, be sure that your established plants are surrounded by mulch or landscape rocks to keep the soil beneath moist longer. High heat coupled with long periods without rain will quickly evaporate water on the surface of the soil. A few inches of mulch or rocks can help slow the evaporation process.
More Tips for a Healthy, Beautiful Landscape
With new and well established plants, if you are watering by hand, or using a sprinkler, try to water in the early morning or early evening hours. Water drops that sit on leaves and petals when the sun is blazing during the mid-day hours act as magnifiers and can cause ‘burns’. During droughts, obey any water restrictions that may be issued by your county. Generally they will require that watering be done during certain times of day. Often times, drip irrigation systems do not fall under the same restrictions as watering with sprinklers does. If you live in an area prone to droughts, consider installing a drip irrigation system to keep your landscaping nice even during restricted times.
To keep your flowers producing blooms and looking their best, remove any expired blooms, yellow or brown leaves. Leaves and blooms that have run their course can ‘steal’ water from healthy blooms and leaves.
Avoid fertilizing during hot summer months, as it is likely to ‘burn’ your lawn and plants. Instead, be sure to fertilize in the spring and fall when temperatures are cooler, and rain more frequent.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a landscape that offers color from spring through fall, choose annuals and perennials that bloom at different times. Bulbs like daffodils, crocus and iris offer early spring blooms. In late summer through fall, mums offer a wide variety of color. Other plants such as marigolds, pansies, begonias, impatients, and geraniums offer color throughout the season.
Need More Help?
Chesapeake Landscape Group is your local source for landscape design, landscape maintenance and hardscapes. Contact us today to see how we can help make your yard amazing!
