Summer has arrived, which means hot weather is officially setting in! Sunlight hours are growing longer, temperatures are rising, and many regions are becoming drier as summertime takes over. Whether you’re growing vegetables, fruit, or flowers in your outdoor garden, use these summer gardening tips to give your crops a smooth transition into a vibrant and flourishing summer season. 

Nail Your Summer Watering Strategy

If you live somewhere dry and sunny, adapt your watering frequency in the summer months to ensure your plants are getting the moisture they need. You could add a second daily watering to your schedule, or water very deeply on a less frequent basis. Watering deeply can help your plants develop deep roots and grow more resilient.

On top of how much you water your garden, it also matters when and how you water. Watering in the early morning and evening ensures that as much moisture as possible can get to your plants instead of evaporating. This also reduces the risk of scorching your leaves, which can happen if there is water on your leaves in sunny hours. 

Installing a drip irrigation system is an excellent way to get water straight to the soil of your garden beds, which can save water as well as promote plant growth. Connecting your drip system to a timer cuts down on your garden-related chores and ensures your plants get the moisture they need even when you’re traveling or busy! A new layer of mulch in your garden and flower beds can also aid moisture retention. 

To give your plants an even better leg-up against heat and dry conditions, supplement with De-Stressor. This safe and natural biological stimulant is formulated to protect your plants in stressful conditions. It’s even available as a single-use packet!

Provide More Shade

Even plants that love “full sun” will struggle in the long, hot days in some regions. Plus, most gardens include several plant species that prefer only partial sun. Once the sunlight hours extend and the sun beats down for much of the day, crops like tomatoes can suffer. 

Installing a simple shade cloth that still lets a bit of light through will help prevent scorching conditions from harming your crops. Use simple stakes or frames to install the shade cloth and be sure to leave space between the cloth and your plants. If you use portable containers for your gardening, you can also move your plants around in the hot afternoon hours to shield them in a shady area instead of installing a shade cloth. 

Swap Out Cool-Season Crops

Lettuce, spinach, kale, and peas make the perfect starters for the gardening season each year – they tolerate cold weather beautifully and provide a rewarding yield quickly. Once the heat sets in, they don’t hold up as well. Once your greens start to “bolt” or grow flowers, it’s time to pull them and give the space over to more heat-tolerant varieties like peppers, squash, and sunflowers. 

Stay Ahead of Pests and Mold

Hot conditions and summer temperatures can mean more bugs and a perfect environment for mold. Keep a close eye on your flowers and veggies and set aside time to prune and deadhead as needed, which can improve airflow and keep crowded conditions from encouraging mold. This way, your plants can make new growth without battling dead foliage for space!

Proactively treat with natural Insect Control and Organic Fungicide to give your plants the best chance against these summertime threats.  

These summer gardening tips take your garden into the summer season with as little stress and as much heat resilience as possible. To make summertime even easier on your garden and boost the success of your blooms and crops, order the Starter Pack!