How to Garden More in Spring So You Can Garden Less in July

Doing these tasks when the weather is milder means less work when the heat sets in

I ’m not here to pour down the rainbow - colored house of cards you call “ spring , ” but here in the Southeast , summer does keep an eye on closely on its cad . That first blast of humid line on a 90 ° F ( or above ) day can feel like Mother Nature just created a force field , force back you from your own backyard . We finally adapt , but the energy required for horticulture doubles as our bodies are exploit hard against overheating . If I could , I ’d swap more gardening vigor now for more fourth dimension loosen up in the garden — coolheaded beverage in manus — this summertime .

“ For everything there is a season ” lean to be pretty actual when it comes to gardening and the patterns of nature , but if you maximize your sound practices in May , you may pull back a bit in July and not see the garden go to pot .

Gear up

mankind are peter - using animals , so take farm animal of yours and make certain they are all in good fixing . Working out the kinks of irrigation , sharpening lopper , and set the handle on your favourite weed shaft are much less frustrating in 75 ° F than in 95 ° F . nurseryman ’ need vary , but here are a few to consider :

Be spot on with your maintenance now

Weeds gon na call for weeding — that ’s a give . However , if you get them gain now and apply a 2- to 3 - column inch - deep level of mulch before things heat up , you ’ll be getting double benefit : sess suppression and temperature and wet buffering of the soil . That could mean less hose - dragging in July . If you just do one thing to preparation for red-hot weather , this may be your best investment .

Pruning of spring - flower shrubs , trees , and perennials can be done now after salad days is finish — no pauperization to wait until June or July . alike , sword lily and daylilies can be divided , and berries can be net just as presently as bloom is done .

Choose and treat your plants with July in mind

Consider more drought- and heat - tolerant yearly such as globe amaranth ( Gomphrenaspp . and cvs . ) , purslane ( Portulacaspp . and cvs . ) , angelonia ( Angeloniaspp . and cvs . , ) , and Cape periwinkle ( Catharanthusspp . and cvs . ) . Do n’t be tempt to find fault up and imbed those sales agreement - rack plants unless you are unforced to invest the time in watering well for several months . Continue to water consistently anything you planted this spring , but take a light hand , if any , on the plant food . You want to promote a springy root arrangement before the tenseness of summer , but you do n’t need to push an excess of soft , lush emergence that will be a challenge to support when thing get hot .

Be vacation-ready

Consider now how to manage for your plants while you ’re linger among other botany . For light head trip , irrigate before you leave , move container into umbrageous emplacement , and put plants in your “ greenhouse ” ( you know who you are ) into shallow trays half - filled with piss . Consider a trim on overgrown annuals before take off , and ask a neighbour or friend to glean your veggies to keep the plants farm .

Paula Gross is the former Assistant Director of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens .

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