Get your garden ready for summer
The hot summer days are the time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your gardening labour but there are still plenty of little things that can be done around the garden. Make sure you’re doing them in the morning and evening or when the scorching sun is beating down on you!
Mulch the garden – Are all your garden beds mulched? It’s a priority in summer, as mulching will ensure the water gets through to the soil and keeps the moisture. Consider using soil-wetting agents and water-storing crystals if it’s going to be a particular scorching summer where you are.
Help potted plants – Most potted plants, especially those in terracotta pots, will overheat easily in the warm weather. If possible, lightly mulch them or place them in the shade.
Water early – The best time to water your garden is in the morning to allow time for foliage to dry out reducing the chance for mildew and fungi attacking leaves.
Keep lawns long – Avoid cutting your lawns too law (called scalping). This encourages weeds to take hold and will lessen protection to nearby soil. Short grass not only results in shallow grass with poor disease resistance but often a brown, bare and weed-infested lawn.
Protect newbies – New plantings will likely need a little help during summer, as they are not yet hardened. Half shade them for a week or two to help them establish.
Spray roses – Roses are particularly susceptible to fungal problems during humid summers. Spray them to help control the black spots. Prune spent flowers.
Harvest vegies – Harvesting your summer vegies regularly will help them produce more crops. Pick vegetables like zucchinis, cucumbers, beans and tomatoes as soon as they're ready.
Watch your fruit – Fruit flies are common in some areas so keep an eye on summer fruits like peaches, plums, apricots, mangoes and passionfruit.