Survive the Virginia Summer: Keep Your Garden Thriving

Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimized by Virginia’s summers. The unpredictability that is DMV weather can really take a toll on your garden. Whether it’s the winds of a tropical storm, or the unexpected lack of rain for weeks, it can be hard to stay on top of things in the summer months – conditions can change in a matter of days. To help you with the frustration, here are a few tips for taking care of you garden this summer to keep your flowers and foliage happy, healthy, and thriving.

Pay Close Attention

One thing you absolutely need to do during the summer month is pay attentions to your garden. As you probably know well, the weather and animals can be unpredictable in the summer and affect your garden accordingly. If you’re not on your toes, the weather can wreak havoc on your plants, whether it’s extreme heat or unwanted pests. But if you stay attentive and do your research on preventing pests and preparing for upcoming weather forecasts, your garden will certainly thank you.

Plant with Purpose

This is something you should be doing year round. Planting with purpose ensures your plants will succeed in the given environment. We emphasize the importance of using indigenous plants where possible and planning out your garden to have the most success both functionally and aesthetically. Before even considering that level of planning, you should always consider the season when getting ready to plant something new in your garden. While prepping for summer, look into hot season vegetables for your veggie garden, like eggplant and chili peppers, and consider using drought-tolerant plants in your garden to help them withstand the heat of summer.

Use Strategy

Beating the heat can sometimes mean being one step ahead. Strategy is a huge part of maintaining a thriving garden, regardless of the time of year. With heat on high in the summer, you should avoid watering your plants in the afternoon. The afternoon tends to be the hottest time of day, which means watering in that timeframe will likely do very little for your plants as it gets evaporated so quickly. Give you plants a chance to quench their thirst and try watering early in the morning to your plants are poised for success. On another strategic note, take care of pesky weeds before they seed! Prevent them from spreading across your lawn and garden, and nip them in the bud, otherwise you’ll be finding yourself struggling for the rest of the season.

It’s never too early to start preparing your yard to do its best this summer. What are your summer garden tips and tricks?