Summer is in full swing and, for most of us in St. Louis, this means more time spent outdoors enjoying the warm weather with family and friends. Naturally, this means that you’ll want to keep your lawn and landscaping looking its very best. We know that keeping up with things can be challenging, which is why Flora Design & Landscape offers convenient monthly maintenance options as well as special event maintenance to help ease the burden. Of course, if you want to ensure that your landscaping makes it through the sweltering St. Louis summer intact, you will need to give it some extra attention on your own in between maintenance visits. To keep your yard healthy and entertainment worthy all summer long, follow these five simple maintenance tips:
This may seem obvious, but the easiest way to help your landscaping flourish year-round is to choose plants and flowers that are native to the St. Louis region. Native plants are adapted to local environmental conditions, and therefore require significantly less upkeep after they have been established. If you want to truly minimize the amount of necessary care, especially in the summer months, it is also essential to select plantings that are listed as drought tolerant or drought resistant. This is a factor that our professionals take into careful consideration when designing landscaping for our customers.
It can be tempting to cut your grass as short as possible to minimize how often you need to mow, especially during the typically blazing hot St. Louis summer. However, cutting grass too short can be harmful, as it destroys its natural ability to grow and resist drought. If you want your lawn to remain healthy, it is important to leave the grass as tall as possible. A good general rule of thumb is to remove no more than 1/3 of the height of the grass at a time. Taller blades are more resistant to heat and other hazards and are better able to protect the soil around them from drying out. This may mean that you will need to mow more frequently but, trust us, your grass will thank you for it.
Let’s face it, weeding isn’t anyone’s favorite summertime activity. Fortunately, if you stay on top of things, weeding just a few minutes each day can be highly effective and, dare we say it, even somewhat relaxing. Of course, on the flip side, if you neglect to weed on a consistent basis then things can get out of control very quickly. Not only are weeds visually unappealing, but they can also steal vital nutrients from your grass and other landscaping – nutrients that are crucial for your plants when it comes to surviving the St. Louis summer.
Ideally, grass and other landscaping should get at least one inch of water per week. Early morning is the best time to water, as it allows the soil to absorb the moisture before the sun has a chance to dry it up. Watering during the hottest part of the day is inefficient, as it is likely that most of the moisture will evaporate before it is able to reach the roots. Adding fresh mulch around your plants is also a good idea, as it will help to protect them from water loss and heat stress.
Of course, the simplest and most effective way to make sure that your grass and landscaping is properly watered is to install an irrigation system. If you don’t already have one, Flora can help you to design and install an irrigation system that does the work for you.
The harsh St. Louis summer heat can really take a toll on your grass and landscaping, so it’s important to remember to fertilize. Fertilizer provides your lawn and plants with essential nutrients that they may otherwise be lacking. Be sure to spread fertilizer evenly and maintain a routine watering schedule.
If you are interested in learning more about Flora's monthly or event maintenance, contact our experts through our website or give us a call at (636)728-1520.