The days are starting to get longer and the sun is shining a little warmer, which means that it’s time to shake off the last signs of spring and get your garden ready for the summer debut. You don’t have to be a seasoned green thumb to be able to enjoy getting your hands dirty in the garden.
However, prepping your garden for summer is both satisfying as much as it is fun. Plus, it’s the perfect excuse to spend more time outside, which is much needed after a long winter. And yes, while you may still be admiring the last of your spring tulip bulbs, summer gardening has its own magic waiting to bloom. Let’s also not forget that getting your garden ready for entertainment this summer is exactly what you need to be doing if you’ve got kids running around.
- Clear up that winter debris. A garden reset is a good space to begin if you’re looking to get your garden ready for the summer months. The spring has been wonderful, but the winter always leaves behind dead leaves, broken branches and all sorts of clutter. Windy spring months can do the same, which means you need to grab a rake and give your garden beds, lawn and pathways a good tidy up. Not only will it instantly make your garden look better, but it clears the way for some healthy new growth. When you have a garden that’s littered with debris, you have no space for chairs, bean bags, or trestle tables. You might also think about getting the BBQ cleaned up and ready to go.
- Prune, trim and snip. While you’re getting your garden debris sorted out, how about looking at pruning back the hedges and snipping all of the old dead bulbs? Cutting back dead or overgrown branches helps your plants to breathe, and they’ll grow better as a result. You could shape your hedges, trim the shrubbery, and deadhead the old blooms, and your plants will thank you for it. Your garden will take on a more polished look when you do this. Don’t get rid of all those clippings though. You could put them into a large plastic container ready to feed your garden beds with your peelings over the winter and colder months.
- Give your soil a refresh. Soil can become compacted and lose its nutrients over time, but you can give it a lift by turning it over with a fork or a tiller and mixing in compost or organic matter. Think of it as feeding your garden a healthy breakfast. It’s the fuel that will help to power through those summer months. That soil refresh will keep your garden healthy and when you add water over the hot days, you’ll be able to keep your garden growing and green.
- Check on your tools. Before you dive into any heavy planting or getting your garden summer ready, you need to take a moment to inspect your garden tools. Any blades will need to be sharpened, hinges will need to be oiled, and anything broken or rusty will need to be replaced. Good tools can make all the difference when you’re deep in a weekend gardening spree, and that means dragging out the BBQ or your grill setup and giving it a good clean down. There’s no point in trying to cook burgers or steaks on dirty barbecues that have been caked in mud.
- Get your mulch game going. A fresh layer of mulch does wonders. It helps the soil to retain moisture, suppresses any weeds, and gives beds a neat and finished look. Those who like to mulch could use wood chips, bark, straw, or even cocoa hulls. Bonus here is that it helps to regulate the soil temperature on those hot summer days, which is much needed to prevent all of your plants from dying off.
- Start planting some summer colours. Adding pops of vibrant summer colours across your garden is easy to do when you plant summer annuals like petunias, zinnias and marigolds. You can mix some bold hues with soft pastels for a dynamic eye-catching display. Don’t forget to leave some space for pollinator friendly blooms like cosmos and you’ll be able to entice the bumblebees and the butterflies to come and do wonders with the nectar. While you’re planting summer colours along your border lines, don’t forget your planters and your window boxes. All of these can be brightened up with some brightly coloured herbs, flowers and fruits.
- Divide if you hope to conquer. There are some perennials like daylilies and ornamental grasses that thrive better when you divide them every few years. If your plants have become overcrowded, which is great because it shows your garden is growing, dig those up, split them, and replant them in new spots. It’s a great way to expand your garden without having to spend too much money. Making sure that you have a balance of both perennials and annuals keeps your garden bright.
- Set up a clear watering schedule. Consistency is key when you want a green garden, so early morning watering is best because it allows plants to soak up moisture before the day gets too hot. You can make it easy with an automated installation of a drip irrigation system to keep your garden happy, but you could also set reminders to turn the sprinklers on at certain times of the day. As we said, first thing in the morning is always better before it becomes too hot, so turning your sprinklers on before 9:00 in the morning is a good way to give your plants a good drink so that they can stay hydrated.
- Repair or install garden edging. Crisp edges can really define your garden beds and keep the grass from invading. Whether you choose to use bricks, metal, plastic or natural stone, edging allows your garden to have that clean and intentional look. Plus it saves time on weeding later on. Edging is going to make a big difference to the way that your garden looks, so choose the right material so it pops.
- Make sure that you feed your plants. Just like you need a summer smoothie in the morning to get you going, your plants need a boost as well. Applying A balanced fertilizer can help to promote healthy roots and blooms. If you can, try to go organic because it’s much better for your garden’s ecosystem as well as your Peace of Mind. Feeding your plants is going to keep your entire garden ecosystem thriving the way that you want it to, which keeps your plants growing. It’s especially important to do this if you’re growing fruit or vegetables.
- Attract as much wildlife as you can. Ideally, you don’t want to attract pests to your garden, but you can still make it a haven for butterflies, bees, and birds. Adding a bird bath, putting up a few feeders, and planting nectar rich flowers brings all of these beautiful wildlife creatures into your garden. Not only does it help with pollination, but they also bring your garden to life in a way that’s so whimsical that you can’t help but feel like you’re walking through a storybook.
- Be creative with your containers. If you don’t have a big garden, but you’d like to get creative with container plants. It’s perfect for patios, balconies or adding accents to your garden beds. Mix and match the pots, play with heights and colours and plant a combination of flowers, herbs and veggies. Not only do you get to experiment, but you don’t have to over commit by having an entire garden that you have to upkeep.
- Start building in a compost bin. Where is the best time for composting? You can collect your kitchen scraps, your lawn clippings, and garden waste to create nutrient rich compost. If you already have a bin in your garden for those scraps that we mentioned earlier, give it a turn and check the moisture level. You can then start adding your kitchen scraps as well as your lawn clippings to it so that you can have that nutrient rich food that your plants will thrive on.
- Plant upwards. If you’re short on space, start installing trellises and plant climbers like morning glories or sweet peas. You can even hang baskets for trailing plants. Vertical gardening adds interest and maximises every inch of your green space. So if you’re looking to grow veggies, why not string those runner beans up the side of the fence?
- Plan out relaxation. After all of the planting, wedding and mulching, you want to be able to carve out a space to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Setting up a bench hammer or a small Bistro set where you can sip lemonade and admire your handiwork in the sun is a great way to begin your summer.
