There are a few essential tips to follow for growing plants during the hot summer months. You should be watering deeply, controlling weeds, and scouting for and controlling pests. In addition, mulching and weed-control products can help your plants stay healthy and happy all summer long. Read on for more tips. Also, consider moving your houseplants to get the proper amount of sun. And don't forget to keep your plants well-watered and fertilized during the summer months.
Water well and water deeply
In the summer, watering is a critical part of plant care. Watering deeply means allowing the water to penetrate eight to 12 inches into the soil. Deep roots protect the plant during drought, as the soil surface dries out faster than the cooler soil below. Aim to water plants deeply at least once every two weeks. If you can't wait that long, try watering for 15 minutes instead. Watering deeply is more effective than shallow watering, which causes evaporation.
One way to test your plants' water-retention capacity is to soak a spot about twelve inches in diameter with a hose. Next, stick a trowel head into the hole three to four inches below the ground level. Once you feel the soil, you've reached the optimal amount of water. After that, repeat the process several times. You'll be amazed at how much water your plants can handle.
Control the weeds
One of the first steps in controlling the weeds during summer plant care is to follow a good watering and fertilizer schedule. Several weed control techniques can be used, such as fumigation or steam pasteurization. You should also know what kind of weed you have before you decide to treat it. This article will give you an overview of the different types of weeds and the best way to deal with them.
To effectively control weeds, make sure that you apply weed killer at least 4 feet away from growing plants, and don't apply it any closer to the drip line of large shrubs or trees. A weed killer applied closer to the roots of a plant will kill the entire plant, not just the weed itself. If you want to avoid using chemicals, you can try eradicating the weeds before planting. Often, a single application of herbicide will eliminate a lot of weeds in one area, and repeated cultivation will deplete weeds' food supply and cause their death. It also breaks down the soil structure and spreads weeds, especially the tough perennials.
Another way to control the weeds during summer plant care is to use a herbicide. A weed killer that works against both broadleaved and perennial weeds has a low leaching potential. It is absorbed mostly through the roots, and it inhibits photosynthesis, so it is safe for use on container grown nursery stock. Another option is a liquid herbicide. In a water-based solution, you can mix oxyfluorfen with a little water to keep the weeds under control.
Scout for and control pests
Before planting your crops for the summer, scout for and control pests. Scouting includes checking crops for disease symptoms and pest activity. You can also use scouting to identify new crops or prevent the spread of disease through infected seed. Scouting is an integrated pest management strategy that identifies and controls pests before they have a chance to spread and injure your crops.
To find pests, scan your landscape and inspect each plant closely. Use a hand lens or magnifying glass to find smaller insects. Flipping leaves to identify pests is another way to look for pests. Aphids are pear-shaped and can live on many different plants. They feed on the growing tips and leaves of plants, so you should check out younger plants to detect infestations before they damage them.
One of the tricky aspects of scouting for pests is determining their tolerance level. Insects can be easily removed by hand, while non-venomous pests can be controlled with chemicals. It is important to note that chemicals can alter the appearance of plants, so use them only when absolutely necessary. If you're unsure of what pests to watch for, consider keeping a gardening journal to record any signs of problems and prevent them from happening in the future.
Mulch
Most garden perennials benefit from a layer of summer mulch to conserve moisture and reduce soil temperature. In Missouri, mulch is recommended for plants such as baby's breath, delphinium, hardy gloxinia, and hypericum. The alternating freezing and thawing of soil can damage new perennial plants. For this reason, mulches should not be applied directly to plants. For best results, apply mulch around trees, shrubs, and perennial gardens, or grouped in a bed to reduce their risk of damaging newly planted plants.
The best mulch for summer plant care is made from organic materials like compost. You can find compost in many sources, including food scraps and yard waste. Compost is great for gardens, as it helps retain moisture while suppressing weeds. Unlike other types of mulch, compost is environmentally friendly, because it uses materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. However, it breaks down quickly and requires frequent replenishment. For large areas, you can purchase compost in bulk to make the best mulch for your needs.
Pull out spent cool-season crops
When warm weather comes to your region, it's time to pull out the spent crops of the cool season. Many vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli, radish, lettuce, and peas, can be harvested at this time of year. Other cool-season crops to pull are kale, turnips, carrots, beets, and radishes.
Replant with early maturing succession crops
In the late summer and fall, succession planting is an effective way to transition from one crop to another. For example, planting a single crop of bush green beans in the late spring will give you two successive harvests. Another example is planting eggplants during the summer, but following them with cabbages when they have reached their peak. This method only requires one sowing session and is easy enough for beginners.
For summer plant care, succession planting involves replacing early-maturing varieties with later-maturing varieties. For example, early-maturing carrots are harvested in 50 days, while later-maturing varieties can take 20 days. This means that you can harvest your carrots at any stage of growth, from baby to fully grown. You can also plant bush-type peas and beans, which require less care than vine-type plants. Bush-type varieties produce a large amount of beans in a shorter period of time, and they are easily preserved.
A good succession planting plan requires knowledge of the year and soil temperatures. You can consult with your local extension office or a Master Gardeners group to find out the appropriate date to plant your succession crops. If you are unsure of the date, check the seed packet or catalog to find out the specific maturity date of each variety. Some varieties are quick to flower, such as Calendula, while others take longer, like Black Eyed Susan, which needs a 120-day growing window.
Replant with late-season crops
The best time to plant fall-season crops is during the late summer or early fall. Most fall crops need several months of prime growing conditions before reaching maturity. This means you can plant these crops as late as mid-July for fall harvest or later for early spring harvest. The following list of fall crops can be planted in late July for late summer harvest. These crops require at least 60 days to mature. You should check with your local Cooperative Extension office to determine the best time to plant these crops.
If you have planted fall crops mid-season, you can reap a bonus harvest in the fall. Replanting fast-maturing crops in mid-summer has built-in advantages over early spring planting. The first step is to amend your soil with compost. This will boost the soil's nutrients and improve its texture. You can also apply a small amount of fertilizer if you don't have compost on hand. Also, avoid deep tilling, as this will break up the soil texture and increase surface crusting, which will act as a barrier to the seedlings. Deep tilling will also cause moisture loss from the subsoil.
Harvest regularly
Summer is the best time to grow plants and garden vegetables. The warm weather and abundant sunlight encourage the growth of these plants. In addition to providing your garden with fresh produce, harvesting regularly also helps to encourage new growth and improve the health of the plants. Harvesting leaves from your plants is especially important for leafy greens, which encourage new leaf development. Harvesting also allows the plants to absorb more sunlight, air, and nutrients.
Once the summer season is over, it's time to prepare for fall. Harvest any remaining fruits and seeds, and dispose of them in a compost bin or green recycling bin. Do not compost any plant material that has been infected with insects, disease, or is not rotting. Composting may not kill weed seeds, and should be avoided. Harvesting regularly can help the soil replenish nutrients. Harvesting vegetables is one way to ensure your garden remains healthy all year long.
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