Growing things is one of the best ways to get in touch with nature and clean up your space in the summer. The sun, flowers, and green plants make any outdoor space come to life. In the summer, though, it can be hard to take care of plants because the dirt dries out quickly, the temperatures are high, and there are more pests. If you give your summer garden the right amount of water, warmth, and care, it can look great all season long. These summer garden ideas and tips will help you get the most out of your outdoor space and keep your plants healthy and happy.
Why Summer Gardens Need Special Care
Summer gardens need extra care because the heat can quickly dry out the dirt and make plants sick. To keep your garden in good shape in the summer, you need to water it regularly, shade it, and choose the right plants. When you water your plant early in the morning, the water stays in the roots longer because it doesn't evaporate. Put mulch around plants to keep water in and keep weeds from growing.
If you want to know how to care for plants in summer, start by picking types that can handle direct sunlight and heat. Even when it gets hot, herbs like rosemary and lavender and groundcovers like English ivy and periwinkle do very well. Adding compost or organic fertilizer to your garden helps replace the nutrients that are lost when you water it too often, so it stays healthy and productive.
Top 10 Summer Garden Ideas
1. Use periwinkle to add color all year long
One of the best summer plants for garden planning is periwinkle, which does well in some shade and doesn't mind being dry. Its purple flowers and lush green leaves make dull spots more interesting. On TN Nursery's Periwinkle Plants page, you can find a lot of pretty kinds.
2. Use wisteria vines to make a peaceful corner
Wisteria vines make any yard look beautiful and smell nice. Their flowers fall from the branches and create a peaceful canopy that turns everyday places into quiet retreats. Check out the beautiful choices in TN Nursery's Wisteria Vine collection.
3. Plant food to eat this summer
Tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers that you grow yourself do very well in the hot sun. Plant them in raised beds or pots with dirt that is full of nutrients. When you pick your plants often, they keep growing new leaves and fruits for longer.
4. Mulch can help keep moisture in the soil for soil care
One of the best summer gardening tips is to use mulch. Organic mulch, like wood chips or straw, keeps the soil moist, stops weeds from growing, and keeps the plants cool. A well-mulched bed also means you don't have to water as often.
5. Use bright blooms to attract pollinators
Bees and butterflies that like bright flowers like zinnias, sunflowers, and marigolds will help your garden grow. These flowers not only help pollinators, but they also make your yard look nicer.
6. Try Herb Garden for Fresh Flavors
It's easy to grow herbs like basil, mint, and thyme in pots or along the edges of your yard. Regularly cutting back herbs makes them grow thick and makes sure you always have fresh leaves for summer meals.
7. Keep the soil healthy
A healthy garden in the summer depends on healthy soil. Every season, switch out your crops, add compost often, and check the pH of your soil. This easy upkeep task keeps nutrients from running out and helps plant roots stay healthy.
8. Set up a system for drip irrigation
Using a drip irrigation system is one of the best summer garden maintenance tips. It sends water straight to the roots of plants, saving water and lowering the risk of leaf diseases that come from watering from above.
9. Add Shade for Sensitive Plants
Some plants don't do well in direct sunlight. Shade cloths or trellises can be used to give tender greens, ferns, or blooming annuals some shade. During the hottest hours, this keeps the plants from dying and leaf burn.
10. Split the harvest and keep the bounty safe
A garden that grows well in the summer often gives you more food than you can eat. You can give your herbs and veggies to neighbors and friends, or you can freeze, dry, or pickle them to use in the winter.
Extra Summer Gardening Tips
- Water deeply instead of often to build strong root systems
- Get rid of weeds right away so they don't take nutrients from the plants
- Check often for bugs like aphids and caterpillars
- Every two weeks, feed plants organically with compost or organic fertilizer
- Pick the right plants for the amount of heat in your areas.
FAQs
What plants grow in summer?
This is the best time of year for plants like cucumbers, tomatoes, marigolds, basil, zinnias, and basil. Some types, like Periwinkle and Wisteria, can handle heat and still do well with water and sun.
What are some unique garden ideas?
You could use vertical growing, flower arrangements in containers, or themed areas like a butterfly garden or herb spiral. Decorating your area with trellises or recycled materials can make it more unique and better for the environment.
What is the 3-year rule in gardening?
The three-year rule says that it takes annual plants about three years to become fully established. The first year, they sleep (pay attention to their roots), the second year, they creep (start to grow), and the third year, they leap (bloom fully).
What flowers are best to grow in a garden in the summer?
Some of the best summer flowers for the garden are zinnias, marigolds, petunias, daisies, and wisteria. These flowers look great in full sun and attract pollinators to your yard.
You can make your yard a bright and relaxing place to be by using these summer garden ideas and tips for taking care of your garden. If you take care of your summer gardens and pick the right plants, your veggies, herbs, or ornamental plants will stay healthy, colorful, and full of life all season long.
