Perking Up the Mid-Summer Garden

It’s that time of year—everything is blooming, and the greenery couldn’t be better. Still, a few more things can be done to perk up the mid-summer garden.

Soil and Watering

• Inoculate plant roots with the beneficial microorganisms in Organic Plant Magic to make the plants healthier and more vigorous

• Add mulch to moderate soil temperatures

• Newly installed plants may need frequent waterings during heat spells; check drip system emitters or rebuild water wells around plants if they have become shallow

Plants

• Divide lilies, irises, and poppies after they have bloomed; later in August is the perfect time

• Keep up with weeding so that they do not set seed

• Dead-head (remove) flowers, but leave spikes and stalks of re-seeding plants, such as Columbine, Chocolate Flower, Blue Flax, and any of the Penstemons

• Shear back the flowers on groundcovers, Veronica, Creeping Flax, and Thyme to stimulate a thicker mass

• Plant the warm weather native grass lawns, such as Grama and Buffalo

Fertilizers and Growth Stimulants

• Use high quality balanced fertilizer, such as liquid Superthrive Vitamin for a gentle mid-season boost of transplants and established plants

• Give this season’s transplants a dose of root stimulator with our Root Stimulator Combo Pack

Text by David Salman

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