Many people thrive in summer weather; plants, however, can be a different story. From monsoon storms to dry months and extreme heat, summer can cause a variety of damage to ornamentals and trees.
If you’re responsible for maintaining healthy plants throughout the year, knowing how to care for them in summer’s extreme conditions, can be the difference between dead plants and a thriving landscape.
Monsoon storms
When it rains, it pours—that’s often the case for desert climates, such as Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. While the summer in these southwest states is often extremely hot (temperatures can often rise to well over 100 degrees), they also see heavy monsoon storms.
Trees, grass and other plants can become vulnerable during these downpours, according to Moon Valley Nurseries, an Arizona-based tree nursery. The best way to guard plants and trees from damage in these storms is to provide proper maintenance and care before a storm hits.
Proper maintenance includes annual pruning, keeping tree branches thin can help prevent damage. According to Moon Valley Nurseries, the denser a tree’s canopy is, the more likely it is to be damaged in a storm. This also includes proper watering, fertilizing and mulch applications throughout the year, to give your trees and plants the best chance of withstanding a summer storm.
Extreme heat
In many parts of the county, late July through August see temperatures in the high 90s to 100 degrees or more. In order to protect plants from heat damage, give your plants the tools to weather the heat and survive the summer months.
To keep plants hydrated, soil amendments such as AquaSmart Pro or Holganix can help lock in moisture, increase root growth and improve soil health, which will ultimately give your plants what they need to take on the heat.
While providing plants with nutrient-rich soil will help keep them healthy throughout the summer, nothing is more satisfying on a hot summer day than a cold drink of water. During the heat of summer, make sure you’re watering your turf, trees and plants correctly.
LoveYourLandscape.org, a website dedicated to professional landscapers, advises industry pros to water less often, but to make sure plants are watered deeply. This can be done by watering earlier or later in the evening to avoid as much evaporation as possible. You can also install drip irrigation to ensure the water gets to the root of the plant.
For more tips on caring for turf during the summer check out this Ewing blog.
Insects
In wetter regions, such as the south, plants, turf and trees can be damaged by the variety of summer insects. From mosquitos to grubs, bugs come out of the woodwork in summer and can have negative effects on turf and other plants.
To combat these pests, Ewing carries a variety of products that can help you keep the bugs away this summer. Traditional insecticides can be effective and affordable options, however, if your customer is looking for an organic and sustainable insecticide the Mirimichi Green Pest Control product is an all-natural formula that controls mosquitos, fleas, ants, roaches and more.
What are your tips for caring for turf, trees and plants during the summer season? Let us know in the comments below.
