There will come a time in your home management experience when time slips away from you despite your intentions to properly care for your landscape. If the distractions of summertime or work and family obligations have caused your landscaping to get out of hand, the good news is that late summer is the perfect time to begin paying attention to your lawn, according to landscaping expert Jennifer Miree Cope.
It may be hot now, but the colder months will arrive quickly, and it’s best to be prepared. There are a few summer landscaping tips you can keep in mind and tasks you’ll want to complete before the end of summer.
It’s common to find weeds in your landscaping in the spring and summer. They can sprout around your landscaping because birds, wind, and lawnmowers drop their seed into the soil.
When you spot an unsightly weed in your landscaping, use your hands to remove it. Mowing over it or removing the top will not kill it. Instead, it will quickly grow back.
Pulling weeds out by hand is safer than chemicals and produces better results. Jennifer Miree Cope suggests walking through your lawn a few days a week, searching for and pulling weeds to promote beautiful landscaping.
Flower beds make a beautiful addition to your landscaping, and you want them to stay that way. You can help by adding a layer of fresh mulch to boost water retention. Mulch holds moisture, preventing your flowers from dehydrating during the year’s hottest months.
Mulch is also helpful in preventing weeds from growing and helps maintain consistent soil temperatures year-round. Approximately a half-inch layer of mulch will protect your flower bed and boost curb appeal.
In the late summer, you’ll want to water your landscaping regularly. It’s crucial to include all components of your landscape, including your:
The most efficient time to water your landscape is in the early morning or late evening. During the morning, your landscape has the remainder of the day to absorb the water before the sun rises and begins drying it up.
Watering in the afternoon can prevent your landscape from absorbing all the water it needs, while watering too late at night allows the water to sit on your landscape throughout the night, promoting bacteria and fungal growth.
As the days go by and the heat remains, you should check the height of your lawnmower and make adjustments. In late summer, raise the blade to approximately one inch. Making this adjustment will prevent you from cutting the grass too short and creating an adverse reaction.
When your grass is too short, it can stress your landscape and create brown patches in the lawn. Raising the blade promotes healthy grass growth, even in the fall.
By using these landscaping tips for the late summer, you can keep your landscaping managed and ensure it’s prepared for the colder months to come.
As a Vanderbilt University alumna with a degree in electrical engineering, Jennifer Miree Cope has an eye for landscape design. Jennifer’s colleagues often compliment her organization and attention to detail.
When she’s not hiking or attending University of Alabama sporting events, Jennifer enjoys volunteering with organizations like Holiday House, STAIR tutoring, or the Children’s Fresh Air Farm.
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