Now that we are at the mid-point of summer and the temperatures have climbed into the 80’s and 90’s (or higher!), the last thing you want to do is to spend a lot of time in the heat maintaining your lawn and flower beds.  Still, a little diligence in the morning or evening when the temps are cooler can make a difference in the health of your landscaping.

Your Lawn

  • Mow regularly and raise your mower blade to 3”-4”. Taller grass is more drought-tolerant and grows deeper roots.
  • Dormant or drought-stressed summer lawns can be more susceptible to insect infestations. Minor infestations often take care of themselves, but severe problems may require attention. Grubs, for example, will begin hatching around now. If grubs typically cause problems in your lawn, you can begin applying grub control.
  • Summer is also the time for fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew and brown patch. Apply fungicide, if needed, and avoid watering in the evening to keep nighttime moisture at a minimum.

Your Beds

  • Look for plants that are stressed from disease or insects and remove or treat accordingly. Humid nights encourage diseases like mildew and black spot in susceptible plants.  Keep diseased plants out of your compost bin.
  • Your annuals and roses may need a fertilizer boost to keep up their blooms. Add sources of potassium to boost blossom development rather than nitrogen, which promotes leafy growth.
  • Replenish mulch as needed. A 3” layer will help keep moisture in and weeds out.

Note: When choosing pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers, look for natural products that don’t use harsh chemicals.  At Native Design Landscaping, we use only eco-friendly products on lawns and gardens.  We use all-natural based fertilizers and plant foods with an I.P.M approach to reduce the use of pesticides and to help keep our water and air cleaner for us and for future generations.

To learn more about the services Native Designs Landscaping can provide, visit nativedesignslandscaping.com or contact Tom Wolfgang, certified horticulturist, at 610.584.2989.