After the Spring Rush

While the spring gardening rush effectively ended for me with the planting of the vegetable garden that doesn't mean there isn't much more work to be done.  A regular reader recently asked what sort of gardening can be done in the summer months?  In my experience, other than annual plants, any and all gardening can be done throughout the summer and into fall but there are a few issues to be noted.

Gardeners often line up at plant nurseries early in the season, not just because we can't wait to get outside in the dirt, but also because we know that if we want a particular variety of plant it may not be available later in the year.  To get the best plant selection you need to visit nursuries as early as possible.  That doesn't mean those plant purchases necessarily go straight into the ground though.  I have plants purchased over a month ago that are still waiting their permanent space in a flower bed.  In the meantime they are sitting in a partly shaded location and being watered frequently.  While the plants can live in pots right through the summer season the small pots can dry out quickly so a shaded location and water will help to keep them alive.  If you're not able to get to the garden centre early, don't dismay!  Although the selection diminishes, there are still plants to be found.  In fact, some of the best plant deals come in mid-summer when the nurseries are quiet and they are looking to move their stock.



Last July I found all these plants for a fraction of the cost at a nursery closing sale



 Another issue with summer gardening is heat.  Heat can work both against you, and your plants.  If you have to work in your garden in the high temperatures of summer wear a hat and sunscreen and bring along a cool drink.  Working on a hot day can be unpleasant and even negatively impact your health so think about completing your chores in the early morning or late evening and leave the hot summer afternoons for lounging on the beach.  If the heat can impact your body negatively the same can be said for plants.  Try not to transplant in the middle of a hot day.  Again, work in the early mornings or late evenings or, if possible, wait for a cloudy day when plants won't be as stressed by the hot temperatures.

A side effect of hot temperatures is lack of water.  The ground dries out as the temperatures heat up and it gets harder to dig in the ground.  If you must dig, try watering the area a day before and letting the water soak in.  When you work the following day the digging will be easier.  If you are transplanting, make sure that your plants and trees get a good amount of water when you plant and keep watering consistently afterward.  The hot sun will mean they are losing water quicker and likely their roots will be somewhat damaged from the move.  This means they have less root to take up water and the roots won't be deep enough to capture water far down in the ground.  Watering well and providing a thick layer of mulch will cool the ground and keep your plant roots safe so they can begin to flourish.


As for myself I will be working on flower beds all summer long.  It seems I never have enough time in spring and fall to do all I would like.  Presently I'm still working on planting up my purchases from the spring plant sale in the entrance garden and it could be another month before that bed nears completion.

Sometimes it feels like there is a never ending list of garden chores to complete all summer long.  Like clearing out the invasive bindweed seen below.

Or turning over my never ending compost pile..

What sort of garden chores do you do in the summer?