Summer brings heat and drought that challenge gardens, especially in places like the South where July and August scorch the soil. Plants struggle to stay healthy, and gardeners face rising water bills.
Caring for a summer garden means managing extremes, too much or too little water, to keep plants thriving. Expert Kacey Cloues from Atlanta’s GardenHood nursery shares useful tips to help gardens survive these harsh months.
Let’s talk about some gardening methods to plant wisely, improve soil, manage weeds, and water effectively through practical, eco-friendly examples.
How to Plant in the Summer Heat?
Planting in summer demands extra care to minimize stress on young plants. Digging a hole twice as wide as the plant’s container, but only slightly deeper, helps roots settle. It is like shaping a wide, shallow bowl in the ground, which gives roots space to spread outward.
A Georgia gardener in 2023 saved her roses by using this method. Narrow holes cause roots to hit dense soil, forcing them to circle and weakening the plant over time.
Filling the planting hole with water and timing how quickly it drains reveals soil texture. If it drains in under 15 minutes, the soil drains fast, similar to sandy beaches in Florida. If it takes more than an hour, the soil holds water, like dense clay in Texas.
In 2024, an Atlanta gardener loosened her slow-draining backyard soil by mixing in sand. Soaking the hole first encourages deep root growth, unlike surface watering that only wets the top layer. Wide holes and soaking establish a strong foundation for new plants.
Building a berm around the plant, like a small dirt wall, helps trap water. It is similar to creating a moat around a castle, directing moisture to the roots. A North Carolina gardener used berms in 2022 to keep her tomato plants alive during a drought.
Without them, water runs off and leaves roots parched. Wide planting holes, water-soaked soil, and berms work together to reduce the shock of summer heat and help plants adapt.
How to Improve Soil for Summer Gardens?
Healthy soil keeps plants alive through intense summer weather. Adding compost such as worm castings or mushroom compost enriches the earth. It is like stirring a nutritious meal into the soil to feed the garden.
In 2023, a Virginia gardener used hen manure to strengthen her sunflowers. Compost offers balanced nutrients and doesn’t overwhelm roots like synthetic fertilizers, which can stress heat-exposed plants.
PermaTill, a type of crushed shale heated to high temperatures, loosens heavy soils and improves drainage. It is like mixing tiny volcanic pebbles into clay to let air and water flow better. Tennessee gardeners in 2024 saved her lavender by incorporating PermaTill, which avoided soggy roots.
A handful works for soft soil, while a shovelful may be needed for dense ground. Unlike perlite, which breaks under pressure, PermaTill stays intact and even deters root-eating moles which is an issue many Texas gardeners reduced by using it around shrubs.
To help mature, stressed plants, gardeners poke holes near them and add compost. It is similar to feeding nutrients directly to deep roots instead of sprinkling food on the surface. A Florida gardener in 2023 revived her citrus trees during a heatwave with this approach.
Deep feeding works better than fertilizer, which can shock struggling plants. However, fast-growing annuals like petunias still benefit from mild summer feeding due to their high energy needs.
How to Manage Weeds in Summer?
Weeds compete with crops for water and nutrients, though not all are bad. Clover, for example, enriches soil by fixing nitrogen and supports nearby plants. It is like having a natural fertilizer partner in your garden.
According to treehugger, there are a lot of inspirational examples that have already done it. In example, some Alabama gardeners left clover in their vegetable beds to benefit her tomatoes. Henbit, another weed, attracts pollinators and pulls out easily.
Another example was when a Georgia gardener in 2024 allowed henbit to grow among her herbs, which helped bees thrive. Some weeds also act like mulch, shading the soil and preserving moisture.
Harmful weeds like dandelions need removal. Pulling them after rain, when soil softens, works best. It is similar to removing a full root system with little resistance. Crabgrass, an annual weed, spreads rapidly if its seed heads mature. Cutting it early stops the cycle and prevents next year’s outbreak.
Organic weed control involves lifting mulch, slicing weeds with a hoe, and spraying them with white vinegar. It is like attacking weeds from all sides without harming the soil. In 2024, an Atlanta gardener relied on this method to manage weeds without chemicals.
Adding newspaper under mulch boosts the barrier, as gardeners in Virginia discovered in 2023. Landscape fabric, on the other hand, suffocates the soil by blocking airflow and discouraging helpful organisms like earthworms.
How to Water Plants in Summer?
Watering correctly is essential during hot months. Deep watering every few days is better than daily sprinkling. It is like giving plants a long drink instead of short sips. Shallow watering promotes weak surface roots, which can’t support the plant. During a Texas drought in 2024, deep watering helped oak trees stay upright while shallow-watered ones toppled in storms.
Soaker hoses work well for summer watering. A 100-foot hose beneath mulch loops around plants, allowing slow, even moisture. It is similar to drip-feeding water exactly where it is needed.
A pressure regulator ensures the flow stays gentle, 10 psi is ideal. For young trees, use the five-gallon bucket technique. A two-inch trunk needs 10 gallons twice per week. It is like giving a sapling its own personal reservoir.
For potted plants with dried-out roots, soaking the entire root ball in water until it gains weight restores life. These practices deliver water deep into the root zone, where it supports plant growth and resilience.
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