All Green Landscapes Ltd

Summer Tasks in the Garden

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Summer is perfect for relaxing in the garden admiring the features that you have added. The wonderful colour of flowers in bloom, the manicured grasses rich and green and sounds from the water feature. But, you cannot rest on your laurels indefinitely. There are still tasks to be carried out to maintain these features. Never fear, it's not a huge amount. You just need to do enough to protect your garden from the weather. A hot summer can do a lot of damage to a garden. This is a list of tasks which may be required to keep your garden looking it’s best:  

Tasks for July:

• Fill up any bird feeders and birdbaths you may have. Our feathered friends are an essential part of our garden environment. It does not always look like it (i.e. when they are pecking at your fruit crop) but they do have their place in mother nature’s world.

• Make sure bedding plants and any young plants have plenty to eat and drink. Fresh, fast growing plants need plenty of sustenance to sustain their growth.

• Remove blooms as they start to die. It is necessary to make way for new buds and looks a lot better. One thing you don’t want is dead flowers on display in your garden.

• Prune bushes that tend to flower in early summer. This will help new growth and will also provide an environment for the new blooms. • Get your autumn bulbs in the ground now. Plant them and water them well. Don't forget to monitor  them during the hot weather to come as you don't want them to suffer from a lack of moisture.

• Keep your runner beans in order by pinching out the mature ones as they reach the top of their canes.

• Arrange with a neighbour or friend to water your garden when you are away on holiday. It would be awful to come back to a dry wasteland when you have spent so much time getting your garden looking great.  

Tasks for August:

• Make sure the water level in your pond is maintained - if you have a water feature in your garden the evaporation due to natural heat during July, August and September will have an effect on the water levels. There may even be additional reasons for the water level to drop such as animals drinking from the water feature. Both of these factors contribute to the lowering of the water levels beyond what is needed to sustain, not only the appearance, but the effectiveness of the water feature to sustain whatever plant and fish/animal life live in the water feature environment. If need be, top up with rainwater preferably as using tap water can encourage the growth of algae due to the nutrient content.

• Water plants as and when they need it - keep a watch on plants and if you see them wilting or drooping then apply water and watch them spring back to life.  Don't use too much water as you can drown some plants.

• Trim your hedges - cut them back in late summer to allow for the new growth in the spring.

• Prune back rambling roses, and trim lavender as it fades.  

• Cut the grass less frequently if the weather is very hot and dry. If you cut grass too tightly in this type of weather it may get scorched and die.

These are a few simple tips to help you through the warmer months.  More to follow as autumn and winter take hold.