Summer is an exciting and abundant season in the garden. It’s a precious time of growth which provides us with nature’s gift of food – energy in the form of delicious fruits and veggies to help sustain us over the hot Australian summer months.
As is the case with many aspects of gardening, knowledge and preparation are power. You can’t kick back and expect your garden to take care of itself. Your plants will thrive in the right conditions—make sure you do your part by making sure that your plants are as healthy as possible before summer comes into full swing.
With these tips in mind you’re more prepared for the time ahead. Starting planning for the summer now to make sure you have a great time and get plenty of fresh food from your garden. And don’t forget to have fun with those garden activities such as gardening, picnics or barbecues.
In the end, these tips are all about doing what is best for your plants.
Water Wisely
Watering your garden consistently throughout summer is essential in helping it to survive the warmer months. There are a number of different ways that you can get water to your plants more efficiently, saving you time and wasting a limited amount of water. Aiming to to water your garden early in the morning or late in the evening will help the soil absorb the water before it can evaporate.
Healthy Soil
Healthy soil is key! Having healthy soil can mean the difference between having a thriving garden and one that will struggle through the seasons. In order to help your soil become as healthy as possible, you should incorporate plenty of compost, manure and proper watering to maintain its structure. If your garden is looking a little lackluster, it might be time to have it tested by someone who knows soil. You do not want it to be completely neglected or you risk never having bountiful flowers or vegetables again!
Use Mulch!
Mulching may seem like a small step in your gardening routine, but it is one of the most important steps. By covering the open soil with mulch, you can lock in moisture, conserve warmth and prevent weeds from growing. To make sure that you get the best results, it is important to spread the mulch 7 to 10cm thick over the soil and place it evenly on top of the ground. Mulch is one of the most useful, but underrated elements in gardening. It can be used to improve the overall health and appearance of your plants, as well as make certain jobs easier such as watering and weeding by preventing bare soil from drying out or getting disturbed by pesky pests.
Use the Right Tools
Make sure that your tools are well-maintained and in good working order. This will help ensure that your gardening experience is an enjoyable one both for you and for your plants – after all, taking good care of your tools is a great way to ensure that they will last for many years to come. As the handles dry out, they may crack, and if you spend a lot of time using your tools, this could happen pretty quickly. Additionally, rusty metal parts can render tools useless. If you have leather gloves in your shed, give them a sniff before donning them. If there is a pungent odor you will know that they need to be cleaned!
How to Spot Unhealthy Soil
Unhealthy soil doesn’t have the moisture and nutrients needed to thrive, which makes it dry, crumbling, and cracked. When you pick up the dirt, it might crumble quickly in your hands or be difficult to break apart. Proper watering and irrigation will improve the soil’s condition in these instances. Poor soil is a common problem in many yards that add to its unattractiveness. Although it can be difficult to improve after years of abuse, one of the biggest problems with unhealthy soil is that it will cause other issues in the cleanliness of your yard, as well as the appearance. Simply put: healthy soil makes for a healthy lawn. This is because as the root structure grows, it nurtures and supports itself in the surrounding environment.
How to Build Great Soil
Improving Sandy Soil
– Add 3-4 inches of organic matter such as well-rotted manure or finished compost.
– Mulch around your plants with leaves, wood chips, bark, hay or straw. Mulch retains moisture and cools the soil.
– Add at least 2 inches of organic matter each year.
– Grow cover crops or green manures.
Its redundant to scrimp on a soil mix and then spend a lot of money on plants, only to watch them deteriorate and die in an unhealthy growing environment. Aussie soils are very thin and can often be found over a subsurface of clay or rock. They can contain a limited amount of organic matter, be low on nutrients plants need for healthy growth and be water repellent.
In order to have a healthy thriving garden area it may be necessary to install raised beds and import a nutrient rich organic soil to give plants the maintenance they need for vibrant flowering and lush foliage.