Summer heat can take a toll on your yard—quickly turning lush lawns brown and making delicate plants struggle to survive. If you are not careful (or experienced), you are looking at a severe risk! Properly preparing your yard for summer will ensure your landscape stays healthy, vibrant, and drought-resistant, even in the hottest months. In this guide, you’ll discover summer lawn care tips and practical strategies to protect your yard. Let’s get right to it!
Preparing Your Yard for the Summer Heat
Mulching: Locking in Moisture and Protecting Roots
- Mulch is a protective barrier that shields soil from direct sunlight, reduces water evaporation, and keeps plant roots cool. Apply 2–3 inches of organic mulch around plants and flower beds. The best mulch types include organic options such as:
- Bark chips
- Shredded bark
- Straw
- Shredded leaves
- Compost
Mulching has several benefits. It prevents weeds, retains moisture, regulates soil temperature, and improves soil quality as it decomposes. In addition to providing moisture, mulching also provides nutrients to the plant.
Avoid piling mulch against plant stems or tree trunks, as it can lead to rot.
Smart Watering: Timing and Frequency Matter
Efficient watering is key to keeping your yard hydrated without wasting water. You’d be surprised to know how much of a difference you can make by choosing the proper watering schedule. It helps plants absorb moisture effectively while minimizing evaporation.
Follow these tips for the health of your lawn and garden:
-
- Water early in the morning. Water your lawn and garden before 10 a.m. This allows plants and grass roots to soak up moisture before the sun’s heat causes rapid evaporation.
- Deep watering once or twice a week is highly recommended and is more effective than frequent, shallow watering. During the hot summer, it aids in more profound root growth and makes the plants more drought-resistant.
- Drip irrigation or soaker hoses deliver water directly to the plant’s deep roots, reducing runoff and leading to slow, even absorption.
- You should adjust watering based on rainfall—overwatering can be as harmful as drought! Smart irrigation systems can detect rain and adjust watering.
- During the hot summer months, lawns need about one to one and a half inches of water per week.
Choosing Drought-Resistant Flowers and Plants
Not all plants can withstand scorching temperatures, but some thrive in dry, hot conditions. Choose drought-resistant flowers and native plants to reduce the need for constant watering while keeping your yard colorful.
The best heat-tolerant flowers and plants include:
- Black-Eyed Susans – Bright yellow flowers that tolerate heat and drought well.
- Coneflowers (Echinacea) – Hardy perennials that attract pollinators and require minimal watering.
- Lavender – Thrives in dry soil and adds fragrance to your garden.
- Russian Sage – Resilient, low-maintenance, and adds a touch of blue-purple color.
- Succulents (Sedum, Agave, Aloe Vera) – Ideal for rock gardens and dry areas with little rainfall.
- Ornamental Grasses (Blue Fescue, Pampas Grass) – Survive intense heat with minimal watering needs.
Lawn Care Strategies for Hot Weather
These three key strategies can keep lawns healthy and green all summer. They are:
- Mowing your lawn properly
- Aeration
- Fertilization
For a healthy lawn, mow at a higher height in the summer. (2.5-3 inches). Taller grass provides shade for the soil, which reduces evaporation and protects roots. You can also leave grass clippings as they act as a natural mulch, returning nutrients to the soil.
When cutting the grass, blades should be sharp and cut cleanly. Dull blades can rip and shred. This can wreak havoc on your lawn and increase the risk of disease.
Remember to aerate the lawn! Punching small holes in the soil allows air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots much more effectively.
Knowing what variety of grass is in your yard is essential. Warm season grass varieties (Buffalo, Bermuda, Zoysia, etc.) require less water than traditional lawns. Meanwhile, cool-season grasses are more tolerant of shade but need supplemental watering during the summer.
Preparing Your Yard for Summer: Keep it Resilient All Summer
Plants suffer from leaf scorch, wilting, and dehydration during heat waves. Protect your garden for better results by:
- Providing them shade
- Group them together
- Apply some compost
- Use windbreaks
Follow all these tips for a better, more summer-resistant yard where your plants don’t just survive, they thrive!
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Arbor Hills Trees & Landscaping Services can provide you with everything from detailed maintenance programs to unique plant production, and other services in between. That means we build water features, walls, patios, irrigation, walkways, outdoor kitchens, lighting, and anything else you can help us dream up. Our professionally trained staff can build the landscape of your dreams and keep you from breaking any Home Landscaping Rules.
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