Top Ten End of Summer Tips: Part I

Top Ten End of Summer Landscaping Tips

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Spring and fall remain full of landscaping tasks, but there are plenty of ways to spruce up your lawn and garden as the summer ends. Check out these easy and effective end of summer landscaping tips, designed to extend the season and keep your outdoor living area healthy and comfortable.

Water What You Can

Watering your lawn and garden can be problematic, depending on local limitations. Use your rain barrel to keep containers and hanging baskets moist, and consider watering the grass weekly when rain is scarce. About 1-inch of water is all that your lawn needs to push through the dog days of summer.

Deadhead and Harvesting

Deadhead your flowers to encourage growth and maintain a neat appearance. Annuals like petunias and pansies take just a few minutes to deadhead, while other annuals and many perennials require cutting. Cut flowers provide fresh, fragrant blooms for the interior of your home, and help to direct energy and nutrients toward growth.

At this time of year a large selection of hearty vegetables is just beginning to flourish in your garden. Make room where necessary by cleaning up early crops and get ready to harvest pumpkins, squash, potatoes and corn. Many of these vegetables can be canned for the winter, and staying on top of the harvest helps to keep your landscape manageable.

Start Light Pruning

Most plants require pruning in early spring and mid-winter, but summer provides a good opportunity for light pruning. Trimming roses helps to promote an additional series of blooms, and many flowering shrubs and trees could use a quick pruning at this time.

Be sure your pruners are clean and sharpened; otherwise you risk harming vulnerable plants. Always clean your tools after dealing with diseased plants, and keep the blades free from debris and sap.

Repair Pet Damage

Pets can do a number on your landscape.http://www.jpc-designs.com/ From digging holes to marking their territory, chewing plants and knocking over containers, your furry friends often leave a mess in summertime. Get the yard cleaned up and repaired by filling those holes, patching up the grass and gardens and securing your containers, furniture and garden structures.

This is also a good time of year to consider building a fence or repairing an existing fence. Contractors often experience a slow down in August, before picking up again in September. Talk to your local contractor about fixing up gaps, replacing worn or broken sections and securing gates to help maintain a safe, comfortable outdoor play area for your pets.

Overseed Where Necessary

Fix bare patches on your lawn by overseeding or applying a grass repair kit. Usually a mixture of sand, grass seed and a slow release fertilizer, these repair kits work wonders on dead spots.
Did you set up a kiddy pool or temporary gazebo? Chances are that the grass underneath has died over the summer and needs a boost to bounce back. Keep this area evenly moistened until the new seeds root and try to redirect traffic wherever possible.

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