It is that time of the year again.That oven we call the sun has been turned on and things are getting hot. If unprepared, the heat and dry weather can severely damage your lawn and garden. Luckily, there are steps we take now to survive the summer heat.
Here are some of our best tips with links to more.
Protect your lawn
The best strategy to keep grass healthy is to keep roots healthy. Cover bare spots of soil with mulch to protect against erosion and keep mowing frequently to stimulate growth and prevent weeds. Steadily increase the height as the temperature increases to keep roots shaded, but don’t stop mowing, because that is when the weeds move in.
For more tips on protecting your lawn, check out tips to heatproof your lawn.
Keep flowers, shrubs and trees cozy
To protect all variety of plants from temperature extremes and maintain moisture, install a layer of protection with a compost and mulch blanket.
A healthy 4-6 inch layer of mulch reduces evaporation and insulates roots from the heat. By placing a layer of compost beneath the mulch, the nutrients of the compost are slowly released into the soil fortifying flowers, shrubs and trees.
Here are some additional ideas to protect your garden in the summer.
Trees – focus on those most in need
Well established and mature trees may well have adapted to the weather extremes of central Texas, but young trees, those damaged in winter storms and those showing obvious signs of stress require more care. Monitoring these trees more closely for signs of stress or disease, giving them extra water, and mulching them well is a way to focus your energy where it is needed.
Check out our summer tree survival tips for more info.
Watering effectively
Less is more when it comes to watering. That is good news if you have strict watering restrictions. Make the most of the times you water by watering deeply. A deep drink of water develops healthy roots, which better survive times of drought. 1-1/2 inches of water every 5-7 days is a good goal.
You can also water more wisely by switching to a drip irrigation system for your garden and trees. Low volume drip irrigation reduces evaporation and runoff and better saturates the beds of flowers, vegetables, and trees.
Here are more tips that will help you water effectively even under restrictions.
Protect your home from summer hazards
Summer heat means potential safety hazards in the form of snakes, scorpions and fire. Maintaining a debris and weed free perimeter around your home is the best way to protect against all.
More specific advice to protect your home and yourself from summer hazards can be found here.
Throw some shade
To protect yourself and your most delicate plants, throw some shade! Shade cloth like canopies, awnings, and umbrellas are easy to install and remove providing quick, temporary shade for areas and plants that are under stress from too much sun.
Here are more ideas on creating shade in your yard.
