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Summer Chores in the garden
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Balmy summer is just one of those lazy kick up your heels and relax seasons and enjoy the fruits of your labors. Apart from hanging up a hammock and sipping on long cool glasses of lemonade, it's a lovely time to just contemplate...And whilst I would love to just sit back in a sheltered corner and relax, there are still the odd summer chores that need doing.
Summer garden maintenance chores
Fruit
trees - many people think that once the fruit tree has
finished fruiting and the fruit has been picked that
they can ease off on the watering. What they don't
realize is that feeding and watering now (which promotes
healthy new growth) will in fact increase next year's
bounty! Fertilize your citrus trees at the end
of summer using liquid manure or poultry manure - they
will love you for it. Keep up the mulch levels
to avoid water loss as the days warm up.
Vegetables
- Get those vegetable beds ready now for your winter-spring
vegetables. Add lime and manure to the soil and
turn in well. Then let it settle for a fortnight
before putting your seeds or seedlings in. Beans, beetroot, brocolli, brussel sprouts, capsicum
and eggplant are great choices. If you are fortunate
enough to have a big plot, then rotating crops can prevent
disease transfer from the old crops to the new.
 Organic Fertilizer Spray KitMulti-Bloom is a favorite of organic gardeners because it not only fertilizes as effectively as synthetic fertilizers, but it's packed with nutrients, amino acids, peptides and minerals they don't have. There's no danger of burning as there is with chemical fertilizers. Promotes strong plants with abundant flowers and fruit, and lush green lawns Hose-end sprayer automatically dilutes the fertilizer for you Use for both foliage and root zone application 100% organic catfish-based fertilizer 32-ounce concentrate Makes about 16 gallons and covers about 2700 square feet Gardener's Supply Exclusive. No measuring or mixing needed; just fill the sprayer, attach to your garden hose and spray. And we've made it easy to use by including our no-clog hose-end sprayer. |
 Orchid FertilizerReady-to-use liquid formulas Gives stressed plants a boost Builds up pest resistance Adds beneficial microorganisms to the soil 20 oz. ready-to-use liquid plant fertilizer Made from worm castings Won't burn roots even if you over-fertilize Eco-friendly recycled bottles OMRI-listed certified organic Apply once a week. Completely odorless and ready-to-use, they can be applied weekly to any type of plant, indoors or out. Give your plants the benefits of one of nature???s most potent natural fertilizers. Packaged in recycled soda bottles. TerraCycle Plant Foods are 100% liquefied worm castings—made by feeding millions of worms a balanced, all-organic diet. |
| All-Purpose Fertilizer ready-to-use liquid plant fertilizer Made from worm castings Won't burn roots even if you over-fertilize Eco-friendly recycled bottles OMRI-listed certified organic Apply once a week. Ready-to-use liquid formulas Gives stressed plants a boost Builds up pest resistance Adds beneficial microorganisms to the soil 20 oz. TerraCycle Plant Foods are 100% liquefied worm castings—made by feeding millions of worms a balanced, all-organic diet. Packaged in recycled soda bottles. Completely odorless and ready-to-use, they can be applied weekly to any type of plant, indoors or out. Give your plants the benefits of one of nature???s most potent natural fertilizers. |
Gutters and drains - If you are in an area that is prone to forest fires or bush fires, then summer entails cleaning out the gutters and drains to remove all 'fuel' in case a firestorm comes through. Add these to the compost heap.
Weeds - with the increase in plant growth comes weed growth too. There is one rule of thumb when it comes to weed control - a little at a time goes a long way. It will save you hours of work because it stops them propogating and spreading seeds everywhere in the next season. Small weeding forks are great tools in removing weeds in the lawn but if you have a big weed problem in your lawn, one of these weed killers may come in handy.
Mulching - if you have neglected to mulch in spring, summer mulching is a must if you want to reduce watering requirements and to protect shallow rooted plants like camelias and azaleas. If you have already done mulching in spring, consider topping it up in summer.
 Mulch Blockat a 2" depth; 8 sq. ft. We???ve all been there: lugging heavy bags of mulch to the car, straining our backs and making a mess. Just add water and in 20 minutes, you???ll have 2 cubic feet of earth-friendly mulch. Mulch delivered right to your door—just add water! 100% organic, biodegradable and renewable Coir mulch has much better water retention than bark Half the temperature and moisture fluctuation of bark Will retain its rich chocolate-brown color Keeps soil cool in summer, warm in winterEach block weighs just 9 lbs, makes 2 cubic feet of mulch Covers 12 sq. ft at a 3" depth Made from coconut husks. These dehydrated coir mulch blocks weigh just 9 pounds and are delivered right to your door. Coir has better water retention than bark, and reduces the temperature and moisture fluctuation by 50%. Keeps its rich chocolate color, too. |
 Rubber Mulch Mailbox RingPut away the string trimmer! This recycled rubber mulch ring fits perfectly around a standard 4" mailbox post (can cut to fit if needed). Rubber mulch suppresses weeds Won't scatter like bark mulch Choice of Walnut or Redwood We also offer Recycled Rubber Tree Rings and Edging 100% recycled rubber 16" diameter x 3/4" thick Gardener's Supply Exclusive. These rings look just like bark mulch, but they're actually thick mats of recycled tire rubber that will stay in place year after year, and they suppress grass and tough weeds. |
Watering - this would be one of your major chores in the summer garden. Deep rooted plants need watering about once a week. Shallow rooted plants would require more frequent waterings - a drip irrigation system is excellent for thirsty plants like hydrangeas.
 Solar Irrigation KitThe kit includes a 4" square solar panel with a 15-foot cord, a pump, 75' of 1/4" tubing, 20 drippers, barbed connectors, support stakes and mounting clamps. This is a first—a self-contained irrigation system that waters up to 20 plants at a time using the power of the sun. No faucet hook-up or timer needed Waters plants when they need it the most—during the heat of the day Kit can deliver up to 24 gallons of water an hour Can be used with water-soluble fertilizer Solar panel can be adjusted to control flow Full sun required for best performance Easy to assemble Use any container up to 15" deep as the reservoir (not included) Kit includes: Powerful photovoltaic 4-1/2" square solar panel with adjustable easel for propping or hanging, DC pump with output nozzle and 15' cord, 75' of 1/4" diameter tubing, ten 1/2 GPH drippers, ten 1/2 GPH in-line drippers, barbed connectors, support stakes and mounting clamps. Just fill a container with water (the bigger the better, but not more than 15" deep), drop in the pump, and place the solar panel in full sunlight. |
Rain barrels are a boon for most gardens. I use mine all the time to store rain water which I find a great resource when my plants get thirsty in summer.
 Optional Rain Barrel StandSaving water is a wonderful thing, and even the smallest yard or patio has room for this compact rain barrel. The black rubber lid has a 4-1/2" wide opening on top for your downspout. With its ribbed surface and rich coloration, it has the charm of an authentic terra cotta urn. Great choice for highly visible spots! Stores 33 gallons of water Hefty rubber lid won't blow away Add the optional 12" H stand for easier access Divert water from downspout to rain barrel using the Downspout Diverter, sold separately This oversize item has an additional $10 shipping charge each Click here to use our Rainfall Calculator 32" H, holds 33 gallons of water No overflow outlet Not for drinking water use Optional Stand is 12" H and fits barrel bases up to 17-1/2" diameter. |
| Beehive Rain Barrel Saving water is a wonderful thing, and even the smallest yard or patio has room for this compact rain barrel. Great choice for highly visible spots! Stores 33 gallons of water Hefty rubber lid won't blow away Add the optional 12" H stand for easier access Divert water from downspout to rain barrel using the Downspout Diverter, sold separately This oversize item has an additional $10 shipping charge each Click here to use our Rainfall Calculator 32" H, holds 33 gallons of water No overflow outlet Not for drinking water use Optional Stand is 12" H and fits barrel bases up to 17-1/2" diameter. With its ribbed surface and rich coloration, it has the charm of an authentic terra cotta urn. The black rubber lid has a 4-1/2" wide opening on top for your downspout. |
 Rain Barrel Linking KitWe've streamlined the design of our Linking Kit to make it easier than ever to connect two of our Deluxe Rain Barrels. Want to collect 150 gallons? Check out our special offer on Two Rain Barrels plus FREE Linking Kit. Our Deluxe Rain Barrel holds 75 gallons of pure, chemical-free rainwater for your garden. Just drill a hole in each barrel, and attach washers and hose. of flexible 1/2" hose, two rubber washers Can also be used as overflow control for a single barrel Divert water from downspout to rain barrel using the Downspout Diverter (sold separately). That's it! Includes 5 ft. Includes 5 ft of flexible 1/2" hose and 2 rubber washers Gardener's Supply Exclusive. |
Pest control - If you have citrus in your garden, scale pests are now in full force as are the other pests like white cabbage moth caterpillars. Aphids are also out in force to suck the juices out of your succulent new shoots.
Flower pots home>gardening articles>summer chores in the garden
