THOMPSON LANDSCAPE TIPS

Summertime brings warm weather and, many times, dry conditions. Just as a person struggles through the warm weather, plants react the same. The following tips will help your garden breeze through the summer months.

• When planting perennials, annuals, and vegetables, remember the plant and root size is still very small, requiring frequent watering. Check the plants everyday to ensure proper establishment.
• Container plants require extra maintenance to ensure plants retain enough water. Since a container has limited soil and water retention, they must be watered more often. Make sure to allow the containers to dry out between waterings in order to avoid standing water and disease problems.
• Established landscape beds have developed root systems, enabling them to grasp available water in the soil. However, wilted or turned over leaves show signs of lack of water. Severe drought is seen through discolored leaves and dying plants. During the warm summer months, pay close attention to established gardens, and water as needed.
• Water plants early in the morning if possible. This is an optimal time to water; plants take in water before the sun evaporates it during the day, and water does not sit on plants as it would during evening waterings, inviting unnecessary disease pathogens.
• Mulching garden beds helps retain needed moisture as well as protects plants. Likewise, adding organic matter to gardens retains downward drainage of water into the soil, ultimately holding water that would otherwise be lost.