It’s easy to be enthusiastic about our gardens in spring, when all is new and we’re so happy to see green again. By summer, often the novelty has worn off and the heat brings us to consider our gardens a chore rather than a sanctuary. Here are a few ways to keep your garden fresh and exciting:
Plant ornamental grasses: Ornamental grasses come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and even colors. These plants thrive in the heat of summer when many of our flowering plants start to look a little ragged. They also add unique texture and architectural form to the garden.
Choose plants with fragrance: Placing plants with fragrance in areas near where people congregate is always appealing, but especially welcoming on a hot day. It can be as simple as a few containers of aromatic herbs like thyme, mint, and basil on your patio to brush your hand across to release a fresh scent. Shrubs like Itea, clethra, privet, and some viburnums are very fragrant when in flower. While some of the newer rose varieties have sacrificed fragrance for other attributes, some still are quite fragrant.
Add a water feature: Even something as simple as a small fountain can give the impression of a cool oasis on a hot summer day. The sound of moving water draws us to our gardens and keeps us connected to the outdoors. Even a bird bath is good for entertainment value. Watching the activity of visiting birds is fun and educational.
Keep watering! Stressed plants aren’t very pretty to look at. Even plants that were chosen for low maintenance suffer during periods of high heat with little rain. Regular watering of your gardens will keep them lush and green. Container gardens become root bound quickly, and watering (usually daily) will be essential to their survival. The addition of a soluble fertilizer to your container-watering schedule every couple weeks will reward you with prolific blooms and happier container plants.
Remember to water your trees during summer too. A hose left to trickle at the root zone of your trees for an hour or two on a weekly basis will help prevent the stress that often causes more serious problems.
With a little effort and planning, your garden can become the “place to be” throughout the summer, an extension of your living area, and an oasis for you and your family.
