Here are some tips on what I do to keep Linda’s Serenity Garden looking good without wearing myself out.
Watering
Watering is a chore that has to be done all summer long. By using water wisely, rather than drenching your entire garden, you will have a better looking garden. I concentrate my efforts on the following:
- Plants growing in pots, containers and hanging baskets dry out very quickly, often in the course of a few hours on a bright, hot, sunny day.
- Herbaceous perennials can suffer during sustained dry spells.
- Newly planted shrubs and trees are very vulnerable to drought stress. As a guideline any shrub or tree planted in the last four to five years are vulnerable.
- Any freshly sown or newly planted plants are at risk of drying out.
- Leafy garden vegetables such as lettuce and spinach should never be allowed to dry out. Other crops should be kept watered well when sowing and transplanting. When they are developing the part that your eat, do not allow them to become dry.
- Lawns can swallow large amounts of water which can be very wasteful and expensive as that water meter spins around and around. Unless you have a very high quality lawn, reduce the amount of watering or stop watering the lawn all together. Instead make sure your lawn is feed. See the article on composting your garden at :http://gardenaccentheaven.wordpress.com/category/composting/
Mow your lawn less often with the blades of your mower set higher than normal. I like to mow my grass with the blade set about 3 to 4 inches above the ground. Keep your blade sharp. A sharp blade, cutting the blades of grass, set up high leaves a nice straight edge that seals fast and keeps the moisture in the blades of grass. A dull blade leaves a jagged edge that takes longer to seal its self and more moisture is lost.
Tags: Garden, garden decor, home and garden, home garden, lawn garden
