
Summer Gardening
Summer means different things and poses distinct challenges amongst Australian gardeners. There are various challenges that all gardeners face at this time of year, as landscapes bare victim to the effect of high temperatures and keeping plants hydrated is a commonly shared issue. Escalating summer temperatures call for more attention, considerations and understanding of your outdoor sanctuary.
Each garden is unique and their varying microclimates, plants and each region’s distinct metrological tendencies mean there is no clear-cut, one-fits-all solution or routine. However, good preparation is key, and with advanced planning, you can really make the most of the summer months to get your garden booming and blooming.

Watering schedule
Watering your garden is an essential component for garden maintenance. Neglecting this responsibility is the easiest way to let your garden go. We get it, manual watering can be laborious, time-consuming and hard to stick to, depending on how often your plants need watering and the size of your garden.
So, if you haven’t got the time, there are plenty of solutions available. Automated irrigation systems can ensure that your plants are receiving their required and routine hydration. Or, alternatively, lawn care professionals or experienced gardeners are available to re-vamp and offer you reliable and informed solutions.

Fertilising on time Healthy soil, Healthy Plants
Keeping your plants healthy isn’t as hard as you think you just have to think about what you can’t see to make sure what you can see is looking amazing. Fertilizing your plants and keeping your soil protected by the elements will also help with water retention during the dry hot summer months. Using ground covers to protect your soil is ideal to keep all the hard working microbes healthy that are turning over the soil and creating nurtients for your plants. Ground covers can be anything from rocks, pebbles, plants and bark. Keeping your plants healthy is simultaneously an art and a science that requires a lot of thought, time and care. Like any living thing, they require a range of nutrients that they can get naturally, i.e. from the sun and through the previously mentioned watering schedule, or artificially when placed out of their natural eco-system- this is where you come in to cater for them.
Fertiliser is a great alternative. A good quality, controlled, released fertiliser applied at the beginning of Spring and then a consistent follow-up throughout the Summer every 8 – 12 weeks will secure optimal growth even in the high temperatures.

Check on Pests
This can make or break your garden. Some commonly perceived garden pests have been shown to optimise soil moisture and heat, such as earthworms, meaning that their presence can be beneficial to plant growth. However, not all garden visitors will be invited or have such a positive effect which is something that you need to be on alert for and have in mind.
There are many ways that you can do this. Many plants have their own pest deterrent defences, and many resistant varieties exist, so by correctly maintaining and growing them, they’ll eventually be grown up enough do the job themselves keeping your plants healthy is key for their own resistance as pest are attracted to sick and vunerable plants. Other than the obvious, planting out of the way, using physical barriers and keeping on guard can help to keep the nuisances at bay. Know your pests lifecycle. With a little research you can find out when your pest starts its breeding season . if you treat the plants infestations early you can break the pest life cycle and stop it in its tracks!

Make a plan for weeds
It’s inevitable. If you have a garden, you’re going to get even more unexpected pests. This time in the form of plant varieties. That’s right, we’re talking about weeds. They’re unavoidable, and best dealt with head on. For optimal results staying on top of your weeding is key. If you leave it too long, not only will you be forced to reckon with a jungle-esque, leafy overfill, but it can be quite an overwhelming experience.

Prune for better shape
Pruning and trimming your existing plants is also another key part of garden maintenance. Not only does it keep everything tidy and aesthetically pleasing, but it also maintains the natural order and ecosystem for your plants. Encourage new healthy growth
By keeping your plants in shape, you are ensuring ultimately that they optimise their nutrients, and they don’t have dying stems, leaves or branches. It allows them to have sufficient space as not to overcrowd or overshadow other plants, so everything can grow harmoniously.

Choose the season plant
Knowing your plants is rule number 1 of summer gardening. In order to get them to fully blossom, bloom or grow the desired fruits and vegetables, knowing the season and conditions in which they will flourish is key.
Each plant has a delicate balance, its own place in the ecosystem and each garden is unique in content, quantity and the conditions that it hosts. Information for each plant can be obtained online, or in store upon purchase about general care and maintenance.

Keep your pots cool
Your pots will be the first thing to heat up and bare the brunt of the summer Aussie heat which doesn’t serve much for your potted plants. Keeping your pots cool should be a key consideration for your summer garden preparation. This could involve strategies relating to the placement, i.e. making sure that they get plenty of shade, extra watering to cool them down or using cooling agents such as sand around the pot to maintain moisture and healthy roots. Making sure the size of the pot isn’t too small.
Having these mechanisms in place will ultimately make staying on top of your garden an easy, habitual and stress-free task, and you can make the most of your summer garden.