Summer

Summer is a great time to admire beautiful flowers as they bloom throughout the season and observe the birds and butterflies they attract.

How to make the best of your summer native landscaping?

  • Visit your native garden and plantings on a frequent basis to gauge plant growth, health, and flower emergence.
  • Observe your plants to witness wildlife and pollinator use. Capture great photo opportunities when flowers are in bloom.
Summer
  • Remove invasive species as you see them emerge. Hand pulling young invasives prevents them from going to seed and spreading the following year, not to mention reducing the need for harmful herbicides.
  • Note flowering periods of the plants you established to determine if supplemental species may be needed to maintain flowers throughout the season and to support the various life cycles of insects you desire to attract.
  • Monitor rainfall to determine if droughty conditions prevail and supplemental watering may be needed. Inexpensive rain gages can be purchased at local nurseries and are easy to install. While established native plants can withstand dry conditions, newly installed plants need adequate moisture to expand their root system and become established.
  • Water newly planted trees and shrubs once per week if there has been less than one inch of rain per week. 
  • Maintain mulch around trees and shrubs. A minimum 2-3 inches of leaf mulch or shredded hardwood bark mulch will help to conserve soil moisture during the heat of summer, protecting your plants from drought stress. Ensure that mulch does not touch the bark of woody plants.  
  • Solarize your lawn in preparation for fall planting.