Essential Landscaping Tips for Summer
Summer is the best time to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. However, this season can be tough on your lawn and landscape plants. In fact, trees can suffer from heat stress. When they can’t recover from the extreme heat and blazing sun, they become more susceptible to pest attacks and other lawn problems.
Fortunately, there are essential landscaping tasks to help your lawn flourish all season. Ready to put in some work this summer? Here are some summer landscape tips for you:
Start With Spring Lawn Care
Springtime prep work will get your yard in shape for the season ahead. Prepping your landscape for summer starts with spring lawn maintenance. When trees and flowers start to bloom, you may now tackle your landscaping chores, such as:
- Remove dead plants and leftover leaves
- Apply fertilizer to strengthen the roots
- Suppress weeds using mulch and pre-emergent herbicide
- Sharpen your garden tools and equipment
- Replant grass seeds on patchy spots
Water Deeply
Contrary to the popular belief, your lawn needs more deep watering than frequent watering. It’s recommended to water in the early morning or evening. Water won’t evaporate off the leaves quickly. As much as possible, avoid watering your plants during the hottest times of the day.
In general, your lawn needs at least 1 inch of water per week. Make sure to know the watering requirements of your soil. To achieve the best watering practices, install a drip irrigation system. This will supply moisture directly to the soil and avoid wastage.
Apply a Layer of Mulch
Mulch is the best line of defense for combatting summer heat. It helps in lowering soil temperature and slowing down evaporation. Add a 2 to 3-inch layer of organic mulch around your plants. When putting down mulch, avoid areas near the tree trunks and plant stems. Mulch can also control weed growth in your landscape.
Mow the Grass Properly
Lawn experts recommend that you mow higher during the summer. The mowing height should be between 3 to 3.5 inches. When you raise the mowing height, you can reduce water loss and maintain your lawn amidst the extreme heat. Cutting the grass too short will result in brown and dead patches.
After mowing, leave the grass clippings and let them settle on your lawn. These will break down and fertilize the soil.
Use the Right Fertilizer
Fertilizing in the summer season is possible if you know the proper application methods. First, choose the right fertilizer for your lawn’s specific needs. Low-nitrogen fertilizers are great for summer. They can help you make the most of each watering and produce abundant foliage.
Perform Regular Lawn Maintenance
Regardless of the season, you can’t slack on lawn maintenance chores. Staying on top of your landscaping game will keep your yard looking its best. Despite the heat, you should still be able to clear debris, reapply grass seeds, examine your lawn for damages, and more. If you can’t keep up with summer lawn care, it’s better to hire a landscape maintenance company to do the work for you.
Control Unwanted Pests
When your trees and plants experience heat stress, they are more vulnerable to harmful insects and diseases. Ward off pests by applying organic pesticides to your landscape. During summertime, always look for the common signs of potential problems:
- Patches of drying grass
- Rotting fruits on the ground
- Burrows in your lawn
- Blotches and holes in the leaves
- Discolored or yellowing leaves
Add Shade or Hardscapes
To create an enjoyable outdoor space, add shade or hardscaping elements. Your potted plants will appreciate some shade from the blazing sun. Plants can be covered with lattice panels, outdoor awning, or shade cloth. The temporary shade will bring down the temperature beneath it by 10 to 15 degrees.
Since summer is great for outdoor dinners, consider installing a fireplace or more outdoor seating. Functional outdoor living space is a great place to bond with your friends and family. Make your whole landscape pop with a few hardscape additions this summertime.
Need Summer Lawn Care Services?
If you have questions about landscaping in Carlisle, PA, turn to none other than Midstate Landscaping. We offer residential and commercial landscaping, mulching, and snow removal services. To schedule an appointment, feel free to reach out to us today. We’d be glad to answer your questions and concerns!