Top 10 Summer Gardening Tips & Tricks
Attention all gardeners: summer is FINALLY here! That means it's gardening time. Round up your favourite seeds, flowers, and plants because it's time to get digging in the dirt. We hope these insightful gardening tips will prove helpful when you're out planting this season!
1. Grow Those Veggies
Warm summer months are a wonderful time to plant and grow veggies. It's also a great time to add some herbs to your garden. Overall, sunshine and warm soil are the ideal growing environment for your yummy greens! Summer is an ideal time to plant capsicums, courgettes, cucumbers, eggplant, kumara, pumpkins and fresh summer herbs like basil, chives, parsley and thyme.
2. Clean up
If you live in an area recovering from a long, harsh winter, your garden (and yard, for that matter) will need some serious tending to. To get your garden looking healthy and ready for growth this summer, we suggest removing any weeds and planning for them in the future by applying generous amounts of mulch to your garden.
3. Keep Your Pots Cool
Did you know that your potted plants are prone to overheat? To avoid the summer heat wave destroying these lovely plants, lightly mulch within the pot and try your best to position it somewhere with a small amount of shade. An ideal location would be where it can get the sun in the morning, and shade in the afternoon. Be sure to also keep up with watering them, of course!
4. Keep Those Pests Under Control
Summer is arguably the worst time of the year for garden pests and unwanted insects chewing away at your plants! But did you know that placing bird baths or bird feeders in your yard will help control the pest population? These outdoor decor items will attract plenty of beautiful birds, thus controlling the insects. But remember, always be friendly and welcoming to our fellow bees and ladybugs because they certainly help rather than harm.
5. Grow a colourful summer garden all year round
Choose to plant drought-tolerant varieties that keep up their performance in hot dry conditions. This helps save water and time, especially for plants grown in pots. Plants are also bred for improved resistance to disease and wet weather conditions.
Try planting species that will bloom in different parts of the year so you have flowering plants all year round:
Spring flowering: Magnolias, Camellias, Rhododendrons, Lavender, Kowhai, Hebe, Wisteria, Pansies and Violas.
Late spring and early summer: Roses, Hybrid Clematis, Abutilon (Chinese lantern), Lilies, Snapdragons, Delphinium, Cranesbill Geraniums.
Late summer and autumn: Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Salvia, Sunflowers, Dahlias, Lavender, Daylilies.
Spring, summer and autumn: Petunias, Sunpatiens, Alstroemeria, Calibrachoas, Calipetites, Superbenas, Cosmos.
6. Mix It Up
Give your garden a new sense of style every year! It's easy to get stuck in the same routine every summer, trimming the same plants, planting the same flowers, and harvesting the same vegetables. Spice it up a little this year and try something different! Plant something you have no knowledge of; gardening is a learning experience in itself, so why not take the time to learn new things about it?
7. Decorate with Succulents
Succulents add the perfect pop of colour to any outdoor space. They're a unique way to give your porch, deck, backyard, or garden space a lot of style for a little cost to you. We love the pre-potted ones because they're easy to bring home, place in your desired space, and water lightly about once a week. They're super easy to maintain and take care of!
8. Keep the Bees and Birds Happy
Our pollinators are important. What's also important is providing them with plants and flowers that will attract them and allow them to do their job. Annual sunflowers are a wonderful option, but check with your local florists and plant nurseries to see what's best for them in your specific area this summer! Gardening is a fantastic way to support wildlife; it's something every gardener should take pride in!
9. Remember the Trees
The trees need some love, too! Be sure to apply mulch around their base as this helps to retain moisture. Still, give them water when needed, but the mulch will help with the water soaking down to the roots before the hot summer sun evaporates it.
10. Get the Kids Involved
There's nothing better than some quality bonding time with your kids. It could be your son, daughter, niece, nephew, or the local neighbourhood kid - there's just something special about teaching children how to grow their own food and precious plants. It's a skill they can use forever, and pass down to their own little ones someday. Inspire them, educate them, and most importantly, have fun! Check out our Kids Activity for ways to include them in the garden.