Here are three essential mid-summer tasks to tackle this week:
1. Give Your Plants a Nutritional Boost 💧
By mid-July, heavy-blooming annuals and container plants have usually used up most of the nutrients in their soil. If your containers are starting to look pale or blooming less, they are hungry!
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Annuals & Containers: Feed them with a water-soluble, bloom-boosting fertilizer every 1–2 weeks to keep the flowers coming.
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Perennials & Shrubs: A dose of slow-release fertilizer will give them the sustained energy they need to finish the season strong.
2. Give Tired Hanging Baskets a "Haircut" ✂️
Are your hanging baskets starting to look a bit leggy, sparse, or spent? Don't be afraid to prune!
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The Technique: Take a pair of clean shears and trim back the leggy trailers by about one-third. Focus on cutting just above a node (where a leaf meets the stem).
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The Result: It might feel a little drastic, but within a week or two, this triggers fresh, bushy new growth and a massive wave of brand-new blossoms.
3. Lock in Moisture & Smother Weeds with Mulch 🪵
July heat means soil moisture evaporates fast, forcing you to water constantly. At the same time, summer weeds are trying to take over your garden beds.
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The Fix: Layer 2 to 3 inches of fresh mulch around your trees, shrubs, and perennial beds.
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Why it works: Mulch acts as a protective blanket that keeps plant roots cool, reduces your watering chore by conserving soil moisture, and blocks sunlight so weed seeds can’t germinate.
Need Supplies? We've Got You Covered!
Whether you need a fresh bag of premium mulch, the perfect fertilizer for your tomatoes, or a stunning replacement plant to fill a gap in your garden bed, we are here to help.
Stop by, stretch your legs, and chat with our team. We are loaded with fresh inspiration and all the expert advice you need to keep your gardens beautiful.
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Happy Gardening,
The C & S Country Gardens Team
