Summertime Lawn Maintenance: A Landscape Checklist
Prepping your lawn in the spring can help your trees, plants, and grass thrive, but you'll also want to maintain the landscaping throughout the summer months. Use the following checklist to keep your lawn and plants looking their best, even in hot weather.
Water In The Morning
As the weather gets hotter, you may want to limit the times you water your lawn and plants. Watering in the midday sun can result in the moisture evaporating quickly. Tackling this task early in the morning when the weather is cooler and the sun isn't at its peak can help the earth retain moisture, which can help your grass and plants thrive. If you'll be turning on a sprinkler system before you leave for the house to run errands, be sure the water is operating on a timer. This can help prevent over-watering the soil. If you don't already have a sprinkler system, consider having one installed. By setting timers for watering, you can take some of the guesswork out of summer landscape maintenance.
Use Mulch
Mulch isn't just for springtime yard prep. Adding mulch to potted plants can help them stay nourished, and mulching the lawn can help your grass grow in thick and beautiful. If your lawnmower has a mulching function, consider using it instead of bagging your grass. Mowers with special mulching blades will trim the grass and the break down the trimmings to create a fine mulch for your lawn. You can also purchase mulch from your local home improvement store or gardening center for flower beds and other areas, but be sure to not layer it on too thick. Piles of mulch can become breeding grounds for pests.
Use Shade Cloth
If you live in an area where there is excessive heat and nearly constant sunlight, you may want to consider shading part of your lawn. For example, a vegetable garden may need some relief from hot weather to help your vegetation grow in full. You can use shade cloth and stakes around the garden to shield the plants from the sun for part of the day. Position the cloth to provide direct cover at noon to get the best results. You can remove the cloth in the evenings so the plants get light beginning first thing in the morning, and then return the cloth before noon the next day. This process can also be used for young bushes or trees that might be vulnerable to extreme weather conditions.
If you feel like your landscape projects need more help, contact a landscape maintenance professional today.