Southern Living’s Summer Garden Checklist

summer garden

A southern summer garden is a beautiful thing. Maybe you’re a green thumb or perhaps you’ve just started gardening. No matter where you are on the spectrum of gardening, Southern Living is a great resource.

Here are their recommendations for what to plant this summer.

June:

Plant Black-Eyed Susans – these bright yellow blooms will cheer up any border. Plant seeds or transplants in sunny spots with well-drained, slightly moist soil.

Grow Caladiums – for dependable color in shade, caladiums can’t be beat. The leaves come in a variety of colors and pair well with impatiens, ferns, and creeping fig.

Mulch new plantings – apply shredded bark or pine straw around newly planted trees and shrubs. This reduces water loss and heat stress on new roots.

Give birds a break – relocate birdbaths to a shady spot to keep water from becoming hot. Place near a small tree or large shrub to give birds shelter.

Water plants – Hanging baskets and containers dry out quickly with higher temperatures. Irrigate plants at dawn and dusk to reduce water loss from evaporation.

Plant a perennial – Purple coneflower will bloom year after year.

July:

Plant Mandevilla – use as a focal point around a pool or patio in full to part sun. Blooms will last until first frost.

Cut back annuals – trim leggy plants so they will be full in the fall. Water and then fertilize with a slow-release, granular product.

Pinch herbs – prequently trim basil, rosemary, and thyme to keep in full production.

Adjust your mower blade – raise the cutting height of your mower by 1 to 1.5 inches. Tall turf shades the soil, slows evaporation, and reduces weed growth.

Click here to get their August recommendations.