Summers in Southern Maryland are known to be HOT. Temperatures often climb into the 90 degree range, sometimes even 100 degrees or higher. Coupled with erratic rain forecasts, severe thunderstorms or even sometimes droughts, it is tough to keep any consistency with caring for your garden or outdoor flower beds, but, there are a few things you can do to help keep your outdoor space looking beautiful, despite the weather.
Water Plants Daily
Even when the forecast calls for rain, sometimes the result is only a few drops of rain, sometimes it is a healthy, soaking rain. Regardless of the forecast, unless you receive a soaking rain that day, be sure to water your plants daily. Extreme summer heat and sunlight will dry up plants very quickly. For best results, water your plants in the evenings, when direct sunlight is no longer shining on the bed. This will give the plant time to absorb the water and rejuvenate for the next day.
Invest in a Growth Supplement
Like humans, sometimes plants need a little boost of vitamins to keep them healthy, especially if the soil they are growing in isn’t a great quality, paired with extreme summer heat and sunlight. A small dosage of a growth supplement, like Miracle Grow, may help preserve your plants through the summer heat. Additionally, if you seem to be lacking sunlight, your garden may benefit from a growth-aid to supplement the lack of vitamin D!
Plant Flowers and Garden Strategically for Sunlight Exposure
Before planting flowers in your garden, take note of how much sunlight exposure the area you are thinking of planting gets each day. If the area gets little to no sunlight, opt for plants or flowers that do not require a full eight hours of light. If the area gets sunlight for most of the day, opt for plants or flowers that require extreme sunlight. If you are unsure of which plants you should opt for, visit your local nursery and ask a professional for their opinion.
Clip Dead Leaves
Like fruits and vegetables, when one spoils, others in the bunch are soon to follow. The same goes for flowers. If you have dead flowers or leaves on your plants, snip the dead areas away to prevent disease from spreading to the rest of the plant.
