Midsummer Guide To Landscape And Garden Care
Portland landscapes are in full bloom this time of year, treating residents and visitors to an abundance of colorful and fragrant roses, fuchsia, and perennials. Landscapes need maintaining throughout summer’s high-growth season. If you’re planning out your midsummer gardening tasks, here’s a good list to get you started:
Summertime Garden and Lawn Care
Planting
Portland’s temperate climate allows year-round gardening. You don’t have to limit planting seeds to the first few weeks of spring. Below is a list of crops year-round Portland gardeners recommend planting this time of year:
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Cabbage, to overwinter
- Cauliflower, to overwinter
- Carrots
- Endive/chicory
- Kale
- Melons
- Onions, to overwinter
- Parsnips
- Peas
- Potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Rutabagas
- Snap Beans
- Squash, both summer & winter
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Lawn care
In Portland, you can have a green lawn year-round, if you’re willing to put in the work. Regular mowing and consistent watering are just the start. The pristine lawns you see in Irvington, Lake Oswego, and other Portland neighborhoods require consistent lawn care. Portland landscaping contractors can help with everything from establishing new lawns and lawn renovation to providing meticulous maintenance that keeps your lawn lush and healthy.
Pruning and Staking
Prune overgrown trees during the summer months; this will slow their growth for the following year. Hire a landscaping company if your trees are too high for you to safely trim on your own. If the branches of some trees look heavy like they’re going to fall off, stake them.
Watering
New plantings and plants that are still getting established will require slow, deep watering during the summer. To properly drench these plants, put the hose nozzle close to the ground. After you’ve watered, the ground should be thoroughly soaked. Don’t just cover the plants in a layer of misting water; this can fry their leaves. It is best to water during the coolest parts of the day – in the early morning and at twilight. For a worry-free system, consider having a landscape company install a drip irrigation system that uses an automatic timer.
Weeding and mulching
If you want those beds to look pristine, weed away. Again, it is smart to work hardest when it’s cool. Once you’re done weeding, add a layer of bark dust or other mulch. As every landscaping contractor will tell you, mulching will help keep the earth around plants cool, especially during the summer months.
Encouraging Flower Growth
Deadhead flowers to encourage new growth. After your delphiniums and columbines have bloomed, you can cut them back by half to encourage another round of blossoms in the fall.
Not Your Garden-Variety Gardens
Landscape East & West has decades of experience designing and maintaining all kinds of gardens. Whether your goal is aesthetic or functional, appearance or fragrance, rain or rock, our experts know how to bring out the best in every landscape. Call us and let our professional team create the perfect garden to suit your needs and your space. View our portfolio to see examples of some of the unique and beautiful gardens we’ve designed.
