Summer Yard Care

Mother Nature has brought us the warm summer days before the summer has even begun.  Summer does not start until June 21st, but your plants don’t know that!  Plants in your yard are ready for some “TLC”.

Watering

As Mother Nature turns up the heat, plants become thirsty, just like us.  Water is such an essential part of life for both us and our plants.  Be sure to water your annuals often, as water is important to their growth and blooms.  Check your plants by sticking your finger about an inch into the soil and only water when that becomes dry.  It is best to water plants before they begin to droop and wilt.  Sometimes your plants may require two waterings per day, especially on windy or hot days. Be careful not to overwater your plants either, because if they are always wet, they are drowning.  

Staking

Now is the perfect time to stake annuals and perennials that are tall growing or have tall flowers, like delphinium and snapdragons.  Tomato cages are also helpful at keeping them, upright and produce yummy tomatoes all summer long.  Your plants may be just starting out, but they will surprise you by how much they will grow. We have all the stakes, cages, and accessories you need to keep your plants upright all season long.

Pruning 

The next round of pruning can now begin.  This time of year is great for taking care of non-flowering evergreens such as pine, spruce, fir, arborvitaes, junipers and yews.  When pruning, it is essential to make the right cut to keep your tree strong and healthy.  Cutting off from growing points, the tips of the plant, will help keep your evergreen compact while maintaining its natural shape.  Also, do not cut past where needles are as often these bare parts of the branches do not fill in.  

When pruning your evergreens you may encounter some brown needles near the center of the plant.  Do not be concerned, it is part of the natural cycle of the plant.  The needles have done this in an effort to put on new growth, similar to the way deciduous trees drop their leaves in the fall.

Fertilizing Your Annuals

Fertilizing your annuals once per season with Osmocote and once a week with Miracle Gro or Jack’s will help keep your annuals producing flowers all season long.  This is what we do at The Garden Barn to keep all our plants looking great.