Late Summer Gardening Tips That Help Plants Last Longer

Gardening and caring for landscapes starts to look a little different later in summer – particularly in areas that have experienced drought or extreme heat. WIth sporadic, infrequent rain and hotter temperatures, trying to do what’s best for your land can be a bit confusing. Taking the wrong approach can harm the plant life you’ve worked hard to cultivate in earlier months.

It’s a tricky time of year. Things are still growing, but a combination of technique and expertise must go into maintaining a beautiful outdoor property. A qualified landscaping expert can introduce methods into your routine that will help keep things growing and extend plant life into the fall. If you tend to your own lawn and garden, below are some basic rules of thumb to keep in mind.

Proper Pruning to Keep Plants and Herbs from Bolting

Swiss chard. Cilantro. Basil. Lettuce. If you’ve included these delicious edibles in your garden, you may have noticed that timing is everything when it comes to reaping the benefits of your labor. You may also discover too late that there are strategies for keeping growth from getting out of control and leaving you with less leafiness to enjoy.

Bolting refers to the premature, often quick growth of a stem before the plant can be harvested. Telltale signs of bolting are:

• A long, empty stem
• Flowering at the top of the stem
• Sudden, upward growth
• Stymied development of lower plant areas

There are several possible causes of bolting, from too much heat to a lack of water to insufficient minerals in the soil. Certain plants need to be checked regularly to ensure they’re in good condition. By August, their season may have already waned.

But you can lengthen the season and increase the amount of leaves harvested by preventing bolting and other unhealthy habits from occurring. Simply cut the tallest stems at their base, typically located at the bottom of a v-shape. How tall to allow them to grow varies depending on the type of plant. Doing so allows sun and water to reach the lower parts of the plant so that new growth can begin.

A horticulture specialist can let you know more about protecting specific plants and offer tips for providing extra shade where needed this time of year.

Watering Tips and Other Irrigation Advice for Your Yard

The best approaches to watering will change throughout the summer season. That’s because when and how much to water a landscape depends on a complex formula. Ideally, you want to water your landscape gradually, tailoring your efforts so just the right amount of water reaches the proper depths throughout your lawn and garden.

Here are a few other late-season watering tips:

1 Water your lawn early in the morning

Avoid wasting water with strategic timing. Watering when it’s cooler out, before the sun is beating down on your lawn and flower beds, will reduce evaporation and preserve the water so it goes into the ground instead of being burned off by the sun’s rays. Getting it done in the morning also helps ensure there will be water for your plants during the hottest hours of the day.

2 Check moisture levels in your soil

Sometimes after a brief rainfall it’s difficult to know if the ground is sufficiently hydrated. Using your finger or a moisture meter, try to figure out if the moisture has reached below the surface. Even if the ground appears wet, the roots of your plants may still need more hydration.

3 Water different areas individually

There are different ways to accomplish this. You may need to hand water dry spots or set up an irrigation system that can be controlled for different areas of your yard. Too many properties overwater, letting it pour onto concrete just to make sure it’s reaching every corner of their garden. Overwatering can even cause fungus to appear and ruin the surrounding area.

Work with a Full-Service Landscaping Company to Extend the Life of Your Garden

A professional can help you preserve water and will use just the right amount using drip irrigation or some other specialized method. They will also apply techniques that result in better growth and a flourishing lawn and garden without overdoing it.

In any season, work with an experienced land management service that can help cure whatever ails your landscape and offer tips on how to care for your garden in between visits. The team of experts at Sheldon Landscape have spent decades working with families to create vibrant and healthy lawns and gardens.

Contact Sheldon Landscape to get started on a plan that will extend the life and beauty of your garden today!