Wednesday 23 September 2015

How to Maintain Your Yard Lush and Green in Summer?

Wondering how to maintain your yard fresh in sizzling summer? No worries, you are just a few approaches away to make it a breeze.

Watering

Improper watering can stress leaves, be it overwatering or under watering. The best fix is to water deeply and occasionally, which allows the soil to breathe well.

During hot summer, water your yard before the break of dawn to bring down water lost to evaporation. Take care not to drown the yard in shaded areas. If you have sprinklers, plan them in three brief cycles, spaced one hour apart. If it is drip irrigation, experts suggest running it a maximum of three days a week during warmer months. Run your drip system 1-3 hours to soak up the root structure. You may have to vary the length of watering time based on the type of emitter, plant types and soil condition.

To prevent leaf scorching in summer, most trees and grown up shrubs need a good soak once every seven to ten days. Irrigate newer plants as often as necessary till they take root in the new earth.

Lawn care

Do not mow during hot, dry spells. Water up to one inch each week over the summer to keep your lawn thriving.

Walk across your lawn and look back to see if you have left behind ‘footprints’. If the grass takes a longer time to spring upright, it is time to water it. Wilting or folding turf grass is another sign to take to your garden hose.

Allow lawns to grow a little taller in summer to shade the soil. As for fertilizing, do so in the morning and irrigate soon after application.

Pruning

Avoid over-pruning plants during summer to prevent severe sun scald. Whenever you prune, remember to discard only 25 per cent of the canopy in one growing season.

Prune trees after the flowering phase is over; this may be spring for some trees and summer for others.

Mulching

Mulch, be it organic (grass trimmings, bark chips, straw) or inorganic (brick chips, stones) inhibits weed growth; maintains a moist environment in summer conserving water; protects roots; decreases abrupt changes in soil temperature. Add a layer of surface mulch 2 to 3 inches thick to keep your soil cool in summer.

Fertilizing

You may have to choose the right fertilizer, specific to your plants and for the time of the year. As for lawn, make use of slow-release fertilizers in summer. It eliminates excessive top growth seen with fast-acting fertilizers, which means less mowing worries. It is wise to go exactly by the directions on the package.

Pest Control

Keep an eye out for insect infestation or disease in the summer months. The first step to keep pests off your yard is to pick disease-resistant plant varieties. Do not spray insecticides when temperatures soar above 90 degrees. Heat and sun can make some of these chemicals turn poisonous to plants.

Knock off bugs like mites and aphids, with a strong blast of water from your hose. Else, let nature take its course – set helpful "killer" bugs like ladybugs loose to prey on aphids. Keep your landscape free of infested leaves, fallen leaves and rotten plant material, so as not to get caught in managing vicious cycles of pest invasion. Better still, get the advice and assistance of landscape specialists to sit back and be soaked in the joy of a well-kept landscape.