How do you rejuvinate your garden in the summer?

Question

I need some ideas to perk up my gardens. I'm in zone 8. A lot of my flowers look rough, loosing leaves and turning yellow. They get a regular watering but I've noticed the soil is starting to look poor and the compost has decomposed quickly and there isn't much there.

I'm concerned about fertilizing because of the heat , but I think they need some nutrients.

I'd appreciate any ideas you can suggest. Thanks!

Answer 1

My best suggestion is that you spend the rest of the summer planning for next year's yard. Beef up the foundation work now for next year and plant hardier stock with plants that mature successively and can withstand your climate.

Maybe I can't express it that well but here's an example:

First the crocus bloom and as they're dying down the tulips are starting to open. When the early tulips are dying back the late-flowering ones are in their glory. The iris open after that and then the roses.

By the way, the hosta in my avatar grows in a shady corner near my porch. The spikes start coming up while tulips are in bloom around it. By the time those tulips have died back the hosta is in its glory and provides cover so I don't get any weeds growing in that area. I'm physically very challenged so I have to encourage my garden to take really good care of itself and that takes care of me.

Answer 2

You can get a big bag of good soil, one with plant food and fertilizer in it, and even moisture control beads in it, (miricle grow makes one) from a garden center, and layer that on top of the soil already there, put bark chips on the soil so that the sun doesn't hit the soil directly.  Also you can get some miricle grow plant food, the kind you disolve in a gallon of water or attach to a hose and feed your plants every 2-3 weeks.  I had to add soil to some of mine, then a few weeks later start using 'plant food' water.  It helped a lot.

Answer 3

It's time to cut back those spring bloomers and spruce up with either late blooming perennials or some fresh annuals.

Here's an article: http://www.ehow.com/how_4407772_that-sum...