Even though the temperatures are hot and the weather is sunny, summer definitely takes a toll on everything in the garden – including the trees and shrubs. Because of the plenty activities and never-ending days, many homeowners tend to overlook the tried-and-true shrubs and trees that have hung around all winter and waited for their ‘five minutes’ in the sun.
If you were star-struck by your flowers and veggies and forgot about year-round care of your trees and shrubs, you should not worry. Today, we are listing the must-know tips for making sure that the flora in your garden is well taken care of this summer.
If you have been taking care of your lawn for the past few years, you probably know that summer arrives quickly and when it comes, it is important to keep everything watered. If the top 2 to 3 inches of your soil are dry to the touch, it is time to water.
When you water, you should do it thoroughly so that the water can penetrate into the soil and hydrate the lawn and shrubs. This will help your shrubs develop strong and deep roots. If you use a hose, make sure to place it near the center of the shrub and only allow a small stream of water to soak in for at least half an hour. If you are using a sprinkler, place some tuna or cat food cans around the plans and water your shrubs until the cans are ¾ inch full.
As you can see, established shrubs benefit from supplemental water during periods of drought. This is why you need to place the hose at soil level near the center of the plant – and saturate the root area.
Next up, you should mulch new plantings with a 2-to-3 inch layer. Keep the mulch away from the main stems (when it is piled around them it can create an environment that attracts insects and pests).
Speaking of, these are some of the best shrub and tree care lawn practices which can help reduce pest and disease problems for shrubs:
As you can see, regular checkups are necessary for optimal control of your shrubs. You should examine your shrubs for signs of damage every now and then. The best way to do that is by handpicking them and drowning them in soapy water. If their infestations are severe, you may want to use an insecticide.
Also, make sure to check the shrubs for signs of aphids or spider mites. Again, insecticidal soaps are great when controlling these pest problems – before opting out for the use of chemical controls.
Summer months are stressful for both plants and people. If you don’t have a proper irrigation system, soaker hoses are the only and best way to thoroughly water your trees and other plants. You can also use sprinklers – but only if you have a uniform coverage.
Again, the hot summer months really drain out the trees (especially the newly planted ones) which is why they need watering once or twice a week (unless you get 1 or more inches of rain).
The August summer tree care basically revolves around the following:
Trees are also weakened by low soil pH levels. You can raise the pH levels quickly by dissolving 1 pound of hydrated lime in 5 gallons of water and sprinkling on the soil under the tree branches.
Make sure to maintain the pH by scattering 1 pound of garden lime per inch of turn diameter. Do it evenly under the branches of the tree. Wait for one year before testing the soil and determining if additional lime is needed. Or, contact our lawn professionals in Wisconsin and get a full pH test with the best methods for optimal control.
Using a non-selective weed killer is also a great option if you want no weeds around your trees. However, you should know that most of the tree diseases are detected with your eyes – which is why you should monitor them continuously and determine their condition.
However, when it comes to weed control for trees and lawn, we recommend you our lawn service in Wisconsin as the best way to a healthy lawn.
Our friendly lawn, shrub and tree control services in Green Bay, Wisconsin are the best solution for optimal health of your garden.
We know that the summer months can present a lot of challenges for homeowners, which is why we have designed a unique tree and shrub care program that takes care of your plants while you are away or relaxing.
