It's best to avoid fertilizing evergreens during the summer, though you may still be able to do so during the early, cooler period of the season. Fertilize in the spring when possible and always follow packaging directions and best practices for fertilizing your evergreens.
Spring is typically the best time to prune evergreen shrubs, but many can also be pruned safely during the early summer. Early summer, immediately after they have bloomed, is the best time to prune flowering evergreens like Rhododendrons and Laurels. You can remove dead and damaged branches at any point in the year.
Watering is critical during the summer months when our region is typically at its hottest and driest. Even established plants often need supplemental water at this time of year, and newly planted or otherwise stressed plants will need special attention. Make sure to keep checking your plants and soil, and keep in mind that evergreens often won't show signs of drought stress as readily as many other plants. Some signs to look out for are loss of foliage, subtle drooping or curling of leaves and needles, browning / discoloring at the tips of leaves or needles, and stunted growth.
Summer typically has the best environmental conditions for weed sprays to be effective. The best conditions for most herbicides are between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, when it is not rainy or windy, when plants are actively growing, and when there is not dew or excessive moisture.
In a majority of cases, herbicides are not necessary for weed control if a garden receives consistent upkeep. A pre-emergent is a type of herbicide that prevent weed seeds from germinating. Always choose the right herbicide for your application, pay attention to where you spray, and always follow packaging directions. With herbicide, more is not always better, and in many cases over-applying can cause a weed's foliage to wither so fast that the herbicide is not translocated into the root system by the plant. This makes it easier for the weed to come back after the spray, among other environmental and health risks.
Mulch serves numerous purposes in the landscape - preserving soil moisture, keeping soil temperatures from reaching extreme highs and lows in the root zone, adding nutrients to the soil and improving soil texture as it breaks down, preventing soil erosion, inhibiting weed growth, and enhancing the look of the garden.
Summer is not the typical time for new mulch installation, but it can be a good time to "fluff" your mulch if you use bark mulch and get the color looking more vibrant again. One exception is if you have a newly installed a garden bed, in which case you should always add mulch after planting.
Mulch serves numerous purposes in the landscape - preserving soil moisture, keeping soil temperatures from reaching extreme highs and lows in the root zone, adding nutrients to the soil and improving soil texture as it breaks down, preventing soil erosion, inhibiting weed growth, and enhancing the look of the garden.
There are many types of mulch materials available for residential gardens, but by far the most common are bark mulches. Some of the other options and variations you may see are wood chips, synthetically dyed bark mulches, bark chips, pine straw, leaf mulches, stone mulches, and plastic mulches.
Fully organic mulches like un-dyed bark mulch, wood chips, and pine straw will always be superior at improving soil texture and nutrients because they are able to break down properly. This makes them some of the best options for plant health. Dyed bark, and especially stone and plastic mulches, are often chosen for aesthetics, and the stone and plastic in particular because they don't have to be reapplied as often, however all come with drawbacks for for plant health in the short and long term.
The pros and cons may make one type of mulch the better choice on a slope, or around a pool deck, or on a woodland edge, but proper application is important no matter the type. That means laying mulch at a proper depth and reapplying at appropriate intervals to keep it serving its purpose. Too thin or too thick of a mulch layer, of any type, can lead to problems with moisture, temperature, and more.
J.R. Thomas Landscaping ~ 10464 St. Rt. 48 Loveland, Ohio 4514 ~ 513-677-4340