It’s true that the warm summer sun brings new ideas for summer gardening, but you need to be careful about the season’s brutal sun rays. Good preparation is required for your garden and lawn to survive the effects of a hot Iowa summer. Follow these tips for building a green garden and lawn in the warmer months.

Make a list of heat-tolerant garden plants

When you grow a summer garden, the first thing to do is make a list of hearty summer plants. Think of the temperature range in your area and choose plants that thrive in those temperatures. Warm season crops germinate at 50 to 90 degree F and cool-season crops germinate at 40 to 80 degree F.

Tip: Peppers and tomatoes are some of the toughest summer vegetables. They thrive well during the summers!

Feed your lawn in late spring/early summer

You can have a green lawn in summer if you feed your lawn with the right fertilizers during late spring. The fertilizers strengthen every blade of the grass making them resilient to summer conditions. Choosing the right fertilizer can be tough. Consult our lawn care experts in Davenport in the Quad Cities for a better understanding of fertilizers.

Tip: Mix lawn food with water maximizer to drive water into dry soils. This combination will build strong roots, ensuring a green lawn during harsh summer months.

Summer gardening essential: take care of growing plants

Losing your flowers and buds as a consequence of plants drying out in summer is common. You need to be extra careful about the budding plants especially if you’re growing them in containers. During hot weather, water your plants twice a week and add a good dose of mulch.

Tip: Moist soil helps protect the roots on warmer days. A golden rule of summer irrigation is to use an irrigation hose with a gentle flow of water to keep the soil surface moist. For protecting the roots, you should water till the soil is moist up to 4 inches down under.

Toughen your lawn to make it a weed-free zone

The list for summer lawn care tips will be incomplete without a mention of the weeds. Weeds are nothing but trouble. They take away nutrients and water from the grass and fight for their existence. The more weeds your lawn has, the greater the chances of pest infestation and lawn diseases.

Tip: Use pre-emergent herbicides in the early spring to create a barrier around dormant seeds in the lawn. This will stop weeds from sprouting in the first place. The post-emergent herbicides can be used for spot treatment throughout the summer.

Create a shady spot for your garden plants

Imagine standing under the scorching sun during summer months. Your plants will feel the same if they are exposed to excessive sunlight. As part of your summer gardening plan, don’t forget to create shady spots for your plants. Use lightweight shades in light colors, which reflect light instead of absorbing it.

Tip: Keep the protective shade 3 to 4 feet away from the plants for maximum airflow. Use PVC to create a flexible temporary shade, which can be removed once the temperature cools down.

Mow your lawn properly

To take care of your lawn in the summer heat, follow the correct mowing technique. Taller blades of grass develop deeper root systems. They also create shady spots, which mean you don’t need to water the lawn frequently. When you cut grass in the summer, the lawn mower blades should be kept high.

Tip: Grass that is cut too short can result in the sun reaching the roots and burning them in the process. Also, don’t mow the lawn with a dull blade lawnmower, it will harm the growth of the grass.

Add some mulch to your gardens

Cover your gardens with thick mulch to protect the soil from the sun and retain nutrients and moisture as required in the warmer days.

Tip: When you mow, leave the grass clippings on the lawn. They are a good source of nutrients for your gardens.

Get your lawn soil tested

Conduct a soil test if your lawn is not growing the way it should. The soil may lack essential nutrients or there might be a PH imbalance.

Tip: For healthy root development, aerating the soil is a must. This will increase the airflow into the soil stimulating the growth of the roots. Aeration also loosens the soil allowing nutrients to reach further in the soil.

Maintaining a healthy lawn in summer becomes much easier if you are helped by our experts at All American Turf Beauty Inc who have specialized in lawn care in Davenport. They know the weather, the soil, the type of grass you can grow, and most importantly, the lawns in Iowa. You know who to contact if summer lawn care feels unmanageable.