Are you ready for your garden to look spectacular this summer? We all dream of having a beautiful garden to entertain in. After colder months, though, your garden probably needs a little love in order to look summer-ready.
To have a lush, awe-inspiring garden during the warm summer months, you’ll need to do a little preparation first. The good news is that it doesn't all have to be done at once.
By planning out what you’ll need to do to get your garden ready, you can break up the tasks and do your gardening whenever you have some spare time.
Read on to learn what you need to do to prepare your garden for summer.
Make Sure Your Tools Are in Good Condition
Most of us don’t use our gardening tools in the colder months. Before you set out to get your garden ready for summer, check that you have all the tools you need and that they’re in working condition.
Make sure any electric tools are working properly and their cables look okay. Clean off and sharpen blades of the tools that need it, too.
Get rid of anything damaged. If it can’t be fixed easily, it’s better to replace old tools than to try to use them if they could pose safety risks. Make a list of anything you need to shop for before you start cleaning up your garden.
Clean Up Your Garden Beds
A great first step is doing a general clean-up of your garden beds. Take some time to pull out any weeds as soon as you see them popping up. It’s always easier to weed before roots grow too long and sturdy. You’ll also want to try to catch them before they start to spread.
Weeds can compete with your other plants for nutrients from your soil. Pulling weeds out as early as possible will let the rest of your plants grow better.
As part of your seasonal clean-up, prune any shrubs that need some neatening up, too. Check if anything was damaged during the winter, and remove dead foliage from last year to make room for new growth this summer. Check any trees in your garden for damage, too.
The last step of garden clean-up is to rake up any dead leaves from your garden beds and edge them, if you’d like to.
Once your garden is cleaned up, you can take a step back and see where you have room to plant new things this season.
Prepare Your Garden for New Growth
Once your gardens are cleaned up, you can get to work on enriching your soil for the best possible growth this summer. Whether you’re growing a vegetable or flower garden, it all starts with great soil.
You can buy soil to refresh your gardens, or you might even want to create your own soil. Creating your own soil will give you a great base for any new raised garden beds you’d like to start, and it’s perfect for seasonal potted plants.
The same goes for fertilizer. While a store-bought option may seem easier, you can also inexpensively make your own fertilizer. Fertilizing your garden will give your plants the extra nutrients they need to really take off. In no time you’ll be surrounded by beautiful flowers or be harvesting tons of fruits and veggies.
If you have pets, you should double-check that any of the products you use in your gardens are pet-friendly, too.
Start Planting
Most people would agree that the best part of preparing a garden for summer is choosing new plants. With so many options, though, how can you decide what to get?
When you look at your garden, do you see a lot of colors? If not, you may want to look for flowers that will add depth and pops of color.
Think about when each plant will bloom throughout the summer months. Getting flowers that bloom at different times will keep your garden colorful all summer long.
You may also want to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bumblebees to your garden. Do some research on what plants will attract these creatures. You’ll have to consider how much sun or shade your garden gets, too. Your plants won’t be able to thrive and bring in pretty hummingbirds and butterflies if they aren’t given the right amount of sunlight.
Succulents are a popular choice for sprucing up a summer garden, too. Succulents can be very easy to care for because they don’t need too much upkeep. As long as they’re getting plenty of sun, they’ll add a fun touch to any outdoor garden space.
Growing the Perfect Summer Garden
Having a cleaned-up, fertilized, and well-thought-out garden will ensure you have a great outdoor space to entertain. All that’s left to do is hose off the garden furniture!
Now you can enjoy relaxing with a good book or spending time with family and friends in your colorful, gorgeous summer garden.
