5 Tips For A Luscious Summer Garden

Our garden's are a huge part of our home living in the summer months, and the more there is to look at, smell and hear (bees!) the better. I thought I'd share my top five tips for a truly luscious summer garden, a few simple habits to get into that will help create your very own outdoor haven. 

Watering Schedule

When the hot weather comes, plants need more water just like we do, but you need to have a good watering schedule to protect your plants and make sure they are getting everything they need. Watering very early in the morning or in the evening when the sun has gone down is best, as it prevents water evaporating as well as stopping plants getting scorched/frazzled by the water in the sun. If you're away on holiday and cannot get someone to come and water your plants for you, you may want to invest in a sprinkler system set to a timer, or on a smaller scale some watering bulbs or home made bottle waterers.

Weeding

Weeds absolutely thrive in summer, so it goes without saying that regular weed pulling will keep them from spreading or getting too big to handle easily. The best time to weed is after it rains if you can, when the soil will be softer making the unwanted plants easier to pull up and less likely to break off leaving things behind. Deter weeds from growing at all, by applying mulch and cultivating the soil where possible. 

Fertilizer

Adding a good dose of fertilizer to your soil beds in summer will add much needed nutrients, giving plants an added boost in growth and colour. There are a lot of different makes and kinds of fertilizer, so do a little research first to see what's best for your garden, soil type and plants.

Trim

Trim back plants that have finished flowering and collect seed heads to dry for the next year. By clearing out the 'dead wood' you can make space for the growing plants and helps budding flowers really stand out. Remove any dead heads from plants too, so that the new growth and other buds can come out. If any plants are looking a little messy or worse for wear, trim them back to encourage new growth and look a little tidier.

Spruce up

While the weather is nicer for longer, use this time to catch up on jobs like treating wood such as decking and fences, touching up any paintwork that's looking rough and jet washing any paths to remove build ups of dirt. Add potted plants for a quick splash of colour to seating areas or areas with less visual interest and hanging baskets for colourful flowers or fruits like strawberries or even tomatoes.

Let's hope we get lots of sunshine this year to enjoy our gardens!