Artisan Landscape and Designs
Summer Newsletter
Summer Landscape Tips
1. Know When to Prune
With some trees and shrubs, you can wait until fall or winter to prune. In fact, the University of Minnesota recommends that you prune many trees during the last stages of winter while the trees are still dormant. The exceptions are sap-heavy trees like maples, butternuts and birch trees.
In the summer, however, you’ll need to focus your attention on the ornamentals that bloom early in the spring. Azaleas, lilacs, forsythia and anything else that blooms early needs plenty of time to recuperate before winter so that you have a good flush of blooms during the following spring. For these plants, start pruning after the blooms fade but don’t prune any later than the end of July. As a bonus, because early blooming plants devote more energy to producing new branches once they’ve been pruned, you’ll be rewarded with a flush of fresh greenery to enjoy over the summer.
2. Mow to the Right Height
In the spring, grass can take a little more abuse, simply because the extra moisture in the ground helps it recover after a harsh mowing. As the weather heats and the soil dries, you’ll need to be a little more particular about mowing. Make sure that you never remove more than one-third of your lawn’s height, even if that means you need to raise the mower deck. This will prevent stress to your lawn, which in turn keeps your lawn green and healthy rather than brown and parched.
3. Deadhead Your Flowers
Deadheading seems like a no-brainer — it gets rid of all the ugly, lifeless blooms. However, there’s an even more important reason to keep up with the deadheading. Flowers, whether annual or perennial, put a lot of energy into seed production. Let some flowers go to seed, and you’ll have far fewer blooms for the rest of the summer, whereas if you pluck the spent flowers, the plant will release chemical signals to increase bloom production.
4. Pick the Right Time to Water
Should you water daily, weekly or not at all? The answer to that question depends on the amount of rain your region has received and the water requirements of the plants within your landscape.
Be sure to water deeply. Avoid watering from 11 AM-3PM, the hottest part of the day. It is best to water between 6-10 AM because there's less wind and less hot sun. Watering at night invites mildew and fungus if you water too late. If you have a new installation or during the midsummer months when it is especially hot, water twice a day. Aim for around 4-7 PM.
For your plants do the finger in the soil test. If the soil clings to your fingers and feels moist to touch, don't water. If, soil falls loosely of your fingers and is dry to the touch, then water.
5. Weed Control
With these tips, you can easily keep your summertime landscape healthy and lush without a lot of fuss. As the weather gets hotter, relax and enjoy all the hard work that led to your gorgeous landscape. Weeding is important during the summer months. Small weeds can easily be pulled, but if they are let go for several weeks they will grow fast in the warm temperatures, making the job much more difficult. It can be pretty easy, and even enjoyable. Just grab a glass of wine in one hand, and stroll through your garden pulling the small weeds before they get out of hand.
Some Great Plants For Summer
Sonic Bloom Weigela
Endless Summer Hydrangea
Blooms on both new and old wood, resulting in color virtually throughout the season. Flowers are pH sensitive. Grows best in part sun.