Summer is the season we all love to hate. It’s a huge improvement over winter because we can finally enjoy the beauty of nature in our own yards. However, it also requires quite a bit of preparation. During the hottest months, you can expect the sun to start scorching everything in your garden, including yourself. It can also get pretty dusty from time to time. In order to properly take care of your yard during summer, you should make some light preparations.
Install sprinklers
Summer can get pretty hot at times, but it doesn’t just affect people. Plants require an enormous increase in water once the extremely dry days roll around. Imagine having to water your most demanding plants twice or thrice a day just to keep them alive during the hottest times of the year. It sounds very time consuming, doesn’t it?
Luckily, you don’t have to do it all by hand. Sprinkler systems have been around for a while now and they can do the job for you. You can put them all over your yard to cover all your bases, or just add a couple of them near your most delicate greenery and flowers. Either way, they’re going to take a lot of pressure off of your gardening work.
Keep the grass looking fresh
Everyone likes having a well-maintained lawn. The grass in your yard needs to be kept at a short height in order to look nice for yourself and onlookers. Did you know that shorter blades of grass also dry out much slower than longer ones? When they have a smaller surface area, they won’t let off as much water into the air, which means they can stay hydrated for longer periods of time.
Mowing your lawn regularly suddenly feels even more appealing. Let’s not forget that keeping it short also gives you an aesthetically pleasing yard that will be the envy of all your neighbours. If your grass doesn’t stand out, it allows your other plants to shine in their own way.
Wash the deck
Spring and summer don’t just bring heat and sunlight along with them, they also bring a fair share of dirt and dust. Your patio might not seem very dirty, probably because a lot of the dust has settled pretty uniformly around the wood.
If you bring out a mop and soap, you’ll find that it’s a lot dirtier than you think. A pressure washer might come in handy. They can clean everything up within a couple of minutes. Suddenly, you’ll start to see the colours of the wood pop more and it will contribute to your patio aesthetic.
Create a Zen oasis for yourself
You want to be able to enjoy the beauty of your yard without getting burned to a crisp by the harsh sun. You should turn your patio into an oasis that will protect you from sunlight and heat. Redo your furniture to be as comfortable as possible. Water vaporizers have become surprisingly cheap nowadays and they can cool you down rather well. Adding one on either side of your patio will bring the temperature down to a manageable number.
Your canopy might be able to protect you from a bit of rain, but it probably doesn’t cover enough surface area to get that pesky sunlight out of your eyes. Most people just install some Malibu Shade sails on top of their canopy for additional shade. It can allow you to sit back and relax without worrying about the harsh sun bothering you during your morning coffee.
Refresh your pots and garden beds
Plants don’t care very much for what kind of dirt they’re in, but it can affect how quickly they grow. Every once in a while, you might want to freshen up the base of your pots and garden beds.
Soil tends to get compacted during the winter and early spring months. The constant changes in temperature during spring make it easy for water to evaporate and it leaves the dirt dry and difficult for plant roots to maneuver. This might dry the plants out a bit.
Loosen the soil beneath the plants to give them some room to grow and absorb water. If you notice your plant is struggling to even survive in a certain pot, you might want to get some fresh dirt to replace the dry patch. If it just requires a bit of commotion, rake your garden bed to loosen it enough for plants to enjoy.
Conclusion
Getting ready for summer isn’t all that difficult. If you’re an experienced gardener, keeping your plant life refreshed shouldn’t take you more than a couple of days. The hot weather might be mildly annoying, but it’s not something that should cause you a lot of issues. With some dedication and a bit of know-how, you will be able to enjoy your backyard oasis pretty soon.
Contributed by
Audrey Taylor was born in San Francisco, and moved to Adelaide at the age of five. Marketer researcher and social media manager on hold, full – time mommy of a cheerful two-year-old. Graduated from Queensford college, worked in a couple of marketing agencies across Australia, eager to learn more about business and share her experiences. Traveled across Europe. Her hobbies include: home decor, fashion, travel, music, old movies.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theaudreyworld
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