It’s the season that folks refer to as the dog days of summer, which means plenty of hot weather. Now until mid-August everything will be at its peak. The planting has slowed down, and focus has turned completely to harvesting, as well as keeping everything maintained in the gardens and fields.
Here are a few tasks to keep in mind throughout these next summer days:
- If the ground turns dry and the heat is at an extreme, avoid fertilizing. It stresses your plants and can actually burn them.
- Keep a daily watch on beetles, worms and other harmful insects that may attack your gardens or field.
- Add mulch or compost around the base of plants to ensure that enough moisture is available for the health of the plant.
- Water early morning to get a head start on the hydration of the gardens or field. I discourage late evening watering due to an increase in disease and fungus.
- Keep those weeds pulled – especially those that reseed. If you catch them before they go to seed, you’ll have less work and extra time spent elsewhere.
- It’s time to start planning for your fall gardens.
It’s time to enjoy the fruits of spring and early summer plantings. And if you’re a flower farmer, it’s your prime season!
Here at the farm, we’re already cutting early blooming perennials back to encourage a second bloom. You don’t have to be a flower farmer to do this. Any home gardener will benefit just the same.
I recommend tidying up the gardens and trimming back spent blooms from hostas, astilbes, and daylilies as well as other flowers. This creates a nice clean look and offers you a step ahead when other duties come calling.
The days of summer can take a toll on a gardener or flower farmer when it’s those hot days with little air flow. Be sure to stay hydrated, wear a hat and keep out of the sun (if possible) in the hot afternoon hours. Always do your garden and field work early morning or late evenings. Allot out those times. It takes planning to make it happen.
The true joy of gardening or being a flower farmer is found within and comes with many trials and errors. Don’t allow a setback to stop you from growing gardens or starting a flower farm!
May your summer be filled with a bountiful harvest & lots of blooms! Happy Gardening!
Pamela Anthony
Beehind Thyme Farm & Garden