From Watering to Weeding: Critical Summer Gardening Tips for the Novice Gardener
By: Lori Brown
As spring yields to summer, the way we approach plants, flower gardens, and front yard hedges has to adjust. This is because temperatures, levels of moisture, weed infestations, and plant needs change. As those conditions change, and bring with them potential threats to the health of our plants, we must change, too. Summer should inspire us to think like full-fledged summer gardening experts, starting with the weeds (a loud groan).
Unfortunately, weeds can become your greatest worry in summer gardening activities. You may spend endless spring hours planting bulbs and new perennials after the hard freeze of winter has ended, hoping for gorgeous blooms from June through early fall, only to lose your plants a few months later as they are gobbled up by exploding weeds. The early work of spring gardening fades in the face of a summer weed frenzy, as weeds can destroy our plants in a matter of days or weeks.
Despite the brutal, back-breaking work of pulling weeds out of the ground at the root and using mulch to hinder long-term weed growth, when it comes down to it, there is no substitute for combatting weed growth other than that of purchasing a thick, comfortable knee pad, getting down in the dirt on your hands and knees, and pulling weeds out one by one. While there are some healthier options to purchase “weed sprays” that may eliminate weeds in areas where you have no other plants, in most cases, the weeds will still emerge among the flowers, requiring individualized attention.
Along with weeds, summer brings heat, and heat can become one of the greatest enemies to healthy plants. Blooms are known to wilt under the harsh rays of the sun, especially if they lack sufficient water. To combat extremely warm temperatures, make sure to water your flowers and shrubs often and provide periodic shade, if possible. A good soaking hose can be beneficial while watering. Make sure to use that hose to get water around the base of the plants. Also, your back will thank you for investing in outdoor spigots that are near your vegetation.
As you pull weeds and water regularly, also consider how excessive heat may result in additional damage to plants. Leaves may get scalded by the sun and whole plants can die rapidly if their roots are too shallow to stay firm in over-watered or under-watered dirt. Always remember that younger, less shallow plants need more water than older plants, and that over-watering is as much a threat as under-watering. Keep an eye out for wilting plants, yellow or brown leaves, and mushy stalks that remind us we watered too much.
If, like the current author, you enjoy these necessary tasks of “summer flower gardening,” but you have killed far too many tulips or petunias in your day to call yourself a “real” gardening expert, and you’re beginning to wonder if you should just toss out a pile of rocks instead, then your best approach to summer gardening is to follow the “SLOW” plan. I use this plan to avoid getting overwhelmed. It also helps me remember to stop trying to keep up with the neighbors. Comparisons are not healthy, so I keep my front yard simple and my gardening sanity in check by following this approach:
S. – Start simple
Choose to add three new plants instead of 30 on the day you plant. It’s not about quantity. Go for quality.
L. – Limit upkeep
Planting ground cover that spreads naturally can reduce the amount of upkeep for individual plants that may need regular pruning. Do your homework and choose low maintenance plants.
O. – Observe what grows well
If your yard seems to work well with select plants and shrubs, then plant more of those. Some soils will not work for select plants, so go with what you know works and experiment with new plants in small batches.
W. – Walk and Talk
Walk and talk to other gardeners. I love nothing better than walking up to the friendly gardening expert at Lowes or my neighbor and saying, “Tell me how you got your tulips to bloom so well.” Learn a little each season to expand your skills.
As I have said before, your flower gardening goal cannot be to recreate the Garden of Versailles. Take things one day at a time, and one season at a time, for little steps of success. In the meantime, get out there and pull some of those pesky weeds! It helps your garden and stress levels at the same time. Bloom well this summer, friends!