Summer Planting Guide
Summer plantings can energize your garden with new plants that are in mid-season form
Many people write off summertime as a poor time to plant, but by choosing an appropriate day and taking the proper precautions, your plants will establish themselves quickly and you'll have instant blooms that you won't have to wait all spring to enjoy.
Water
An appropriate level of water is important to any planting, but it takes extra importance during the summer. With arid temperatures your plants will naturally demand more moisture. Even if you're planting in damp soil or drizzly weather, new plantings should receive a good soaking when they go into the ground. This initial soaking will settle the soil around the roots and will expedite the time it takes for the plant to start drawing water from the ground on its own.
Continual watering after the plant is in the ground (typically 2-3 times a week) will ensure that your root structure will grow and establish in its new soil. By following this pattern, most plants will begin to establish themselves within a week after being put in the ground.
When to Plant
We have many large trees now available at 25% OFF.
Choose the day you plant carefully and know your limits. Planting in the mid-afternoon on a hot summer day won't do your plants or yourself any good. You should also be on the lookout for windy days. Heavy gusts can quickly strip new trees of their leaves. If this happens when the plant is not taking up water from its roots yet, it can cause serious stress.
The best days for summer planting are cloudy ones. Without the sun blazing down, you and your new plants will have a more pleasant planting experience.
Take a Garden Getaway!
Join us for a chartered bus trip to Pleasant View Gardens in Loudon, NH on Friday, August 3rd and see how noted gardener P. Allen Smith uses Proven Winner annuals to create dazzling gardens.
Transportation, a catered lunch and all the day’s activities are available for just $25. For more information, or to register, please give us a call at 207-846-4398. Space is limited, so call soon to reserve your spot!
How to Design a Low Maintenance Garden
Meredith Kennedy
Plan Before You
Plant Designer
When it's 90 degrees in late July, the last thing you'll want to be doing is deadheading in the garden. By carefully planning your landscape you'll be able to create a beautiful, low maintenance garden and avoid these undesirable tasks.
Understanding and selecting plants that fit your climate, soil and sun is the key to success. If a plant is unsuited to survive in the area you place it (for example a shade plant in a sunny area) they will require more of your attention and time to survive.
Understand Your Site
Take some time to observe the area you would like to plant and consider these key condition factors:
- Sun - Determine how much sun your site will recieve each day. An area is considered full sun if it receives 4-6 hours, part sun is 2-4 hours, and anything under 2 hours is considered shade.
- Cold - Make sure you know your hardiness zone. Generally speaking, the Yarmouth area is a Zone 5 and can support any plant with a hardiness zone of 5 or below.
- Moisture - Most plants can thrive in a moist, well drained soil, but most sites aren't that easy. Luckily, there are plants perfectly suited for very wet or very dry conditions.
- Deer - They may be cute, but deer can devastate plantings (especially in the winter). The best way to fend off hungry deer is to plant things they prefer not to eat.
- Wind - Many plants are not suited to high wind conditions.
Do Your Research
Once you understand your site, begin researching plants that work for your conditions. You can visit our online plant catalog, ask our staff for plant particulars, or search the web. This could take some time, but can save on costly mistakes and many hours of maintenance in the future.
Follow a Few Basic Rules
Finally, follow these tips to reduce maintenance time:
- Plant more shrubs and trees and fewer perennials
- Plant "blocks" of color (multiples of the same plant) instead of a single variety
- Plant site appropriate groundcovers to inhibit weed growth
- Find plants that require little if no pruning, deadheading, or special care
- Plant native plants that are already perfectly suited to our weather
- Remove unwanted grass and weeds before preparing your bed
- Stay ahead of the weeds - never let them go to seed!
- Amend the soil with organic material
- Mulch to retain moisture and reduce weed growth
If you'd like help designing a lower maintenance landscape, please contact us. We now offer Plan Before You Plant - landscape design assistance for the homeowner.