Lawn Care, Perennials - Care, Planting, Seasonal Tips, Shrubs & Bushes, Trees - Planting & Care
The Dog Days Of Summer
Some say that the dog days of Summer are in August. Us here at Heritage Hill would like to think of it as an opportunity to keep your gardens, yards, and landscaping projects moving right along!
Here are some tips to help you get through those dog days and make an impact on your outdoor look.
We continue to keep safety in mind so that you can get this done; and we can help you along the way! The staff here is willing to assist with any of your late Summer needs.
Stop in and visit us at Heritage Hill Nursery in Cedarburg, WI where the latter part of Summer is warming up with helpful hints and sale items.
Perennials
August is a great time to separate perennials in your garden such as Hosta’s, Irises’ and Daylilies. When digging up, make sure you do not damage the root ball of the plant, separate with a small knife or spade and replant in other areas.
Next, get out there and get the weeding done! August is a perfect time to do this because it is the end of the planting season and perennial weeds can produce thousands of seeds that hamper the growing season next Spring and they can be difficult to eliminate. If possible, it is best to get weeding when the soil is moist after a good rain.
Also, in August, plant some new perennials for next season. Perennials such as sedums, peonies, lilies, and hydrangeas get a good grip into the soil in the cool Fall weather and come out shining in the Spring.
You will be glad you did all this when the beauty of Spring bursts out loud and your garden looks fantastic.
Shrubs:
For shrubs we look at August as a great time to plan and plant what kind of shrubbery you want to get started for next year.
A small reminder as to why shrubs are valuable and why get them ready in August are for these reasons.
- They provide landscaping solutions such as privacy, visual interest, and physical separation.
- Many provide fragrance that other plants do not. Take lilacs and how the scent fills the air when properly poised near a patio or open window.
- Shrubs can be a fragrant, uplifting experience in your garden or yard.
So, plan in August to add some for the next season. How about the empty space that somehow just looks like a void that needs “something.”? Well? How about some shrubs to make that spot stand out?
Check out the selection at Heritage Hill Nursery today.
Trees:
Much like shrubs, late August can be a wonderful opportunity to plant new trees.
Many people think that Spring is the only time a tree should be planted. Well, that is not always the case. Spring is a great time for planting trees but late August, which is the beginning of Fall is a great time as well.
Successful planting occurs this time of year if you wait till the leaves have fallen. In Wisconsin, this can happen about this time, unlike other parts of the country.
The roots will continue to grow if the ground has not frozen yet. This lets the tree get a good hold for good growth come Spring.
Lawns:
August is a perfect time to prepare your lawn for the long Winter season. Here we have a few tips for lawns in August.
- Pull weeds out of the lawn if you see them. A couple of weeds here and there will not hurt but that couple can turn to multiple and starve your lawn for water.
- Mow your lawn on the highest setting so the grass does not get burnt out in these hot days.
- Water your lawn 2 or 4 times a week depending on how much rain you get in August.
- Have your lawn aerated to keep moisture flow into the roots of your grass.
- Apply a nitrogen-based fertilizer after the lawn has been watered to help the grass continue to grow.
- Seed in bald spots in your yard in August.
- Let the grass clippings from the mower fall back onto the grass to help feed the lawn.
These tips will help you maintain a healthy lawn and prepare it to survive the harsh Winter and be ready to flourish in the Spring.
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Garden Decor, Lawn Care, Perennials - Care, Planting, Seasonal Tips, Shrubs & Bushes, Specials, Trees - Planting & Care
Turn down the heat!
Wow, from Winter to Summer with planting, mowing, and trimming in between. There is no time to take a break with weather changes this quick, but we will take it. We will be shoveling snow before long. So, let us look at some tips for your garden for the month of July.
We understand with some state guidelines still in place that it may be a bit more difficult to get out and get the products you need to get your garden going but with keeping safety in mind, you can get this done and we can help you along with your project. Our staff can provide information and designs to get your project moved along in the heated part of the season and show how to maintain all the work that you accomplished in the Spring.
Stop in and visit us at Heritage Hill Nursery in Cedarburg, WI where the plants are growing, and the staff is eager to help you out.
Perennials
Some tips we would like to share with you involve perennials and what you should try to do with them come July.
How To Prune Your Perennials For The Summer Season
Flowers, plants, trees have all had a good Spring to get stabilized and now we enter part of the season that can prove to be brutal if the temperatures and moisture do not cooperate. What you should do with your perennials is to remove the dead flowers!
As flowers fade you should get out and remove them as soon as you can. While doing this, remove both flower and stem. Some plants produce a stalk that is separate from the rest of the foliage. That stalk should be removed as well.
Cut the perennial back to unopened buds or cut back to a good set of leaves.
You should also shear the plant anywhere from 25 to 50%. Also, look at the perennial and selectively remove any tired foliage. This helps your perennial to flourish without carrying so-called “dead weight” through the hot season.
Shrubs
Bushes or shrubs that flower in the Summer bloom on growth that is coming from the present growing season. These bushes or shrubs should not be pruned in the Summer before blooming has begun because this would remove the buds that are just about ready to bloom.
You should always prune these types of bushes or shrubs in the Spring before any new growth begins or during the Winter season. But for the month of July, the heart of the Summer season, let them be, no pruning required at this time.
Trees
Here are some tips on how to maintain your trees in the heat of Summer.
Help keep trees cool. How? Well, pay attention to what landscape materials you use under a tree. For example, hard materials such as rock or decomposed granite can cause heat to reflect or radiate which in turn puts undue stress on a healthy tree.
How about paying attention to what your tree is telling you. If leaves fall off during July your tree may be telling you that it is reacting to soil compaction, saturated soil, you’ve planted a shade loving tree in the sun (or vise verses) or you are simply experiencing drought conditions and it needs water.
And if you must prune in July, keep it to a minimum. Dead branches or branches that may be able to cause damage to your home or other structure should be trimmed out, including broken ones. However, try not to do any major pruning of trees until late Fall or Winter.
Lawns
For lawn care in July, continue to mow the lawn as needed. Make sure the lawn gets about an inch of water per week. Mulch clippings to aid in cooling and feeding your lawn. Edge planting beds for a clean look.
If you are inclined, maybe plant some warm-season grasses and make sure you keep them watered. Stop fertilizing your lawn in mid-Summer as this could burn the grass out. And make sure your lawnmower or tractor blades are kept sharp to make a clean cut and a great looking lawn. With these simple tips your lawn will look great into the Fall season.
