Seasonal Helpful Hints: Summer

Summer is here and this it is a good time to really enjoy your hard work from the spring that you put into your garden. Although this does not mean that the workload is over. These coming months are full of tasks for the gardener from mulching and water conservation, to weeding and deadheading. You also have to be on the look out for pest and disease problems that seem to start arising in the summer due to weather and the growth stages of your plants.

Summer is also a great time to bring your indoor plants outside. Tropicals, orchids and flowering indoor plants love the outdoors during this time. When bringing your tropicals outside though, make sure that they are in the right location.

Pest & Disease

Pest and disease problems start showing themselves more these months due to the weather and growth stages of your plants. Always keep a look out for problems they are much easier to take care of in the beginning stages. If you need help in diagnosing the problem come into our garden centre and we will be here to help with the process. Make sure to bring in a sample of the infected plant for an accurate diagnosis.

Watering

This is when watering seems like it never ends. There are some helpful hints though to keeping your watering down.

• When watering your plants make sure that you give them deep soakings, making sure the first 15cm or so of soil is wet. This will help drive the roots down deeper creating a stronger plant
• Water plants in the morning so less evaporation occurs and so they do not burn from water on their leaves.
• Do not water overhead. This will cut down on wasted water.

Also think of planting drought tolerant plants. Remembering though that they can only withstand drought once established.

A great website to check out for more in depth water conservation tips is www.crd.bc.ca/water/conservation/

Mulching is another great way to conserve water in your garden. Apply fresh mulch in the beginning of summer and throughout the season when levels are getting low. Mulch will help retain the water and help with evaporation.

Plants

Summer is a great time to see where there are holes that need some filling. Our garden centre plants up larger containers of annuals so when a replacement is needed the plants will match in sizes. Perennials are also a lot of fun to plant this time of year, since you can see them in bloom when choosing them at our nursery.

Most things can still be planted this time of year as long as proper planting techniques are in place and that they have enough water made available to them.

In late summer it is a great time to start dividing your perennials. It is also a great time to see which ones will need it in the spring.

Fertilizing

Fertilizing your containers should be done once every two weeks. Your garden beds will need some rejuvenating also during the summer. The use of organic compost is a great way to mulch and fertilize in one step. You can also use fish fertilizer or an all purpose fertilizer once every two weeks also.

When it comes to late summer you will want to stop fertilizing plants such as roses so that it does not interfere with late flush growth.