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Community Corner

Keeping the Garden Blooming All Summer Long

How to maintain a colorful garden through the dog days of summer

Summer is the season when most flowering plants are in full bloom. It is also the season when plants are most stressed. Proper watering and maintenance will keep your garden blooming and healthy through the hottest of summer days.

Watering

Adequate watering is vital to the survival of a summer garden. The following watering techniques will ensure that plants receive enough water while reducing water usage.  

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Water deeply. Well established deep rooted plants should be watered to a depth of five to six inches. Seedlings should be watered more shallowly and more often. Deep watering promotes root growth and will result in healthier, more disease resistant plants.

Watering plants early in the morning or late in the evening reduces the amount of water loss by evaporation. Water should be directed to the base of the plant – avoid wetting foliage. Wet foliage promotes disease like mole and creates a welcoming habitat for snails, slugs and other pests. 

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Install a drip irrigation system with a timer. A well designed drip irrigation system is an efficient and water conserving method of watering, as water is directed to individual plants and not wasted on non-planted areas.

Use aqua cones and aqua globe.  Aqua cones and aqua globes deliver water to individual plants as needed and are great water saving devices. You can make your own aqua globe from old wine bottles.

If you water with a hose or watering can, water plants individually, directing the flow of water to the base of the plants. Water slowly to ensure maximum absorption of water by the soil around the plants  and to avoid run-off. 

Mulch

A two to three inch layer of mulch aids in keeping soil moist as it reduces evaporation. Depending on the size of the plant, keep mulch one to three inches away from the base of the plant.  Organic mulch (wood chips) or inorganic mulch (rocks or recycled rubber and other materials) can be used.   

Dead Heading

Dead heading forces the plant to re-bloom quicker and, in the case of some plants like salvia, to bloom a second time. Dead heading interrupts the plants reproductive cycle. The final stage of a plant’s reproductive cycle is seed production.  After a bloom fades the remaining seed head (ovary) will produce seeds.  Once seeds are produced, the plant has completed the reproductive cycle and will produce fewer flowers or become dormant. Dead heading before the formation of seeds tricks the plant into re-starting the reproductive cycle. The Garden Gate Magazine has a comprehensive guide on how and when to dead head various plants.

Fertilize

Apply a bloom promoting fertilizer every seven to 14 days. Look for a fertilizer that is high in phosphorous. When buying fertilizer, check the label to determine the balance of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, which is indicted by three numbers, i.e. 15-15-15. The middle number is higher for bloom promoting fertilizers, i.e. 15-30-15. Discontinue use of bloom promoting fertilizers in the fall.

General Maintenance

Remove dead branches and leaves. The removal of dead branches and leaves increases air circulation around plants and helps to prevent disease.   

Cut back leggy plants. Some plants like petunia will become leggy during the season, producing fewer blooms. Cutting back the stem by one-third will promote the growth of lateral stems and more blooms.

Control weed.  Remove weeds as soon as they appear.  Weeds compete with plants for water and soil nutrients. Many weeds are invasive and can take over a a garden if left unchecked.  The best time to weed is after watering or after a rain fall as the soil the looser.

Follow these tips to keep your garden health and blooming all summer long.

Sources: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, eHow.com

 

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