How To Care For Your Garden This Summer

Summer is a favourite time of year for many Australians who love to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. With memories of hot days spent by the pool, running under sprinklers on the lawn and playing backyard cricket, summer evokes feelings of nostalgia that connect us with the great outdoors. 

To help maximise your garden throughout the warmer months, we’ve put together some simple tips that will ensure your garden gets all the care it needs to see it through the summer season. 

1. Sun safety 

The first major consideration when it comes to gardening during the summer is protecting yourself. Sun safety is incredibly important, so make sure to slip slop slap and stay out of the sun during peak UV times. We recommend completing more energetic gardening work in the mornings or early evenings. 

2. Protect your pots 

Potted plants, particularly those in terracotta pots are susceptible to overheating when left in the direct sun. Where possible, lightly mulch and position them in a shady, sheltered place. If your potted plants have already been dried out by the heat, submerge them in a bucket of water for half an hour before draining.

3. Mow your lawns  

To keep your lawn looking lush throughout the summer months, mow lawns as high as your mower permits. It’s a common misconception that cutting lawns low reduces the cutting frequency. Longer lawns wear better and also help to suppress weeds such as bindis. 

4. Fertilise your soil 

To keep your plants healthy, water in cooler parts of the day, such as before 10am or after 4pm. Make sure to water at the base of your plants and keep leaves dry to prevent disease. Applying a rich soluble fertiliser after watering will give your soil the nutrients needed to correct any mineral deficiencies. 

5. Whack your weeds 

The summer heat makes gardens more prone to weeds, so it’s important to pull them out while they’re still small to stop them from taking over your soil. Spreading a layer of mulch no thicker than 5cm on your garden will not only help to reduce weeds, but also shield the soil from the direct sun, keeping your plants happy. 

6. Plant veggies

Summer is the perfect time to plant celery, leeks, sunflowers, carrots, watermelon, beetroot, pumpkin, sweet potato and basil. To give your crops the best chance, sow in the morning or early evening and shelter them with shade for a week or two. 

Crops that are ready to harvest in summer include potatoes, chillies, capsicum, sweetcorn, tomatoes, gherkins, zucchinis and squash. 

7. Save water 

Help to preserve water by checking hoses and irrigation systems are free from leaks. Capture as much water as possible from every shower in your rainwater tanks by clearing any debris from your gutters. 

“Avoid the summer heat by completing more energetic gardening work in the mornings or early evenings. ”

“Avoid the summer heat by completing more energetic gardening work in the mornings or early evenings. ”