How to Manage Your Landscape in Late Summer

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, consider creating a visually appealing and relaxing backyard where you can spend a few hours everyday and unwind. Landscaping can improve a home’s value by anywhere from 5.5 to 12.7 percent.

You cannot just create your landscape and forget it. Remember, different seasons affect your landscaping differently. You need to come up with a plan to keep your lawn looking perfect all year long. Summer can be a particularly difficult time for landscaping enthusiasts. During the summer heat, landscape plants are under severe stress.

The hot and dry summer weeks can also negatively impact the health of shrubs, lawns, and trees. With summer around the corner, let’s take a look at some suggestions from Sonoma County landscaping services to maintain your landscape during the summer months.

Add Mulch to Flowerbeds 

Dehydration during summers is a major concern not just for us humans, but also for plants. Adding a layer of mulch to flowerbeds can significantly improve water retention. Even a ½-inch thick layer of organic mulch can trap moisture, helping prevent dehydration in plants and shrubs.

Deadhead Flowers

Deadheading flowers is important for promoting healthy growth and maintaining a neat appearance. If you have pansies and petunias, you are in luck as deadheading them does not involve much effort. Many other perennials and annuals, however, require cutting.

If you grow veggies in your backyard, now is the right time to harvest them. To make room and to keep your landscape manageable, clean up early crops.

Get Rid of Pesky Pests

While some pests cannot survive the summer heat, many others enjoy basking in the sun and wreaking havoc on lawns. Use organic solutions and pesticides to eliminate grubs and other lawn pests.

Remember, the more successful you are in eliminating grubs this year, the higher your chances of avoiding pests next year. Use traps, insecticidal soaps, and other environmentally friendly pest solutions to get rid of flying pests such as red lily beetles and Japanese beetles.

Water Correctly

Just because it is summer that doesn’t mean that you must water frequently. The way you water your flowerbeds and plants is more important than the frequency with which you water. To keep your plants hydrated throughout summer, water them deeply.

Your grass should get at least an inch of water every week. We recommend watering in the early morning or late evening to prevent moisture loss caused due to sun exposure. Use drip irrigation instead of sprinklers as it waters plants slowly, preventing the water from running off or evaporating.

Mow Correctly

Mow your lawn higher in summer. Use sharp lawn blades as dull blades chop at the grass leaving dead ends that consume more nutrients. Mow only when the grass is dry.

Need landscape maintenance services in Sonoma County? Look no further than Gardenworks Inc. We are one of the leading landscape contractors in Sonoma County. Over the years, we have transformed several landscapes. Our landscapers keep on top of landscaping trends and are always on the lookout for new landscaping ideas. To discuss your project, call us at (707) 857-2050.