Summer is an exciting and abundant season in the garden. Such an abundance of activity. Plants are flourishing with lush new growth; flowers are blooming, and there is a different kind of feeling in the air.

So many delicious vegetables and fruits will soon be ripening such as cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelons and strawberries. Summer is bursting full of delicious, vibrant, hydrating food - nature's way of providing us with refreshing energy for the long hot Australian summer days.

This period of time can also be an incredibly busy time for gardeners. With long, hot and often very dry periods over the warmer months, your garden will need a little extra care to stay thriving and full of life. Getting organised ahead of time will make the flow into summer a whole lot more enjoyable and seamless.

Here are some top tips for keeping the garden healthy during summer and promoting the best possible growth for plants, fruits and vegetables.

Water Wisely

Watering your garden consistently throughout summer is essential in helping it to survive the warmer months. There are a number of different ways that you can get water to your plants more efficiently, saving you time and wasting a limited amount of water. Aim to water your garden early in the morning or late in the evening to give the soil time to absorb the water before it can evaporate. If you have good mulch and soil, the rate of evaporation will be considerably slower. Therefore, watering will be a lot more efficient and successful in the long run. A great idea is to ensure you have a hose system close to your garden. This will mean you will have time to swiftly give your plants water before you rush out the door in the morning.

Build Healthy Soil

It all starts with the soil! Having healthy soil is the key to living thriving gardens. Soil that is full of life and protected from the harsh elements will make your job easier! Having an abundance of fibre in your soil will help it hold moisture, especially if the nature of the soil is quite sandy. Sandy soils will often let all the water run away between the particles before it has had the opportunity to be absorbed by the plants. Lots of compost and composted manure is a great place to begin when forming your soil to be full of nutrients and as healthy as possible. Healthy soil that can retain moisture will mean you will not be forced to water and take care of it as often.

Cover With Mulch

Leading on from soil, mulch is integral in a summer garden to retain moisture and protect the earth. Just like what happens to your skin, soil that is exposed to the harsh sun will dry up, crack and stop absorbing water at the same rate. Adding a 7-10cm thick layer of mulch at the start of summer can also help suppress weeds. Weeds, just like your plants, will be in full bloom come summer as the weather warms up. Mulch will put a stop to them by limiting the seeds from getting enough light to germinate. Mulch will also start to break down and add additional nutrients to your soil, slowly feeding your plants throughout the season. Reapply mulch at the change of each season if required or at the commencement of spring and autumn. The layers of mulch breaking down will assist in adding much-needed natural fibre to your soil to aid in its ability to retain as much moisture as possible.

Check Hand Tools

Make sure your hand tools like shovels, hoes, and trowels don't have cracked or dry handles and/or rusted metal parts. Sand down the handles and rub them with linseed oil. If you are looking to buy new tools, Materials In The Raw has a great range of gardening products to give you the best possible opportunity to maintain a healthy garden through the summer months.

Which Soil Makes the Best Garden?

The best soil for most plants to ensure optimum growth is a rich, sandy loam. This soil is an even mixture of all three main types of soil. In most cases, you'll need to amend the soil with compost. Depending on how compact the soil is, you may need to add peat moss and sand. Materials In The Raw have a wide range of quality soils to assist you in maintaining your garden to the higher standard.

What Does Unhealthy Soil Look Like?

Unhealthy soil doesn't have the moisture and nutrients needed to thrive, which makes it dry, crumbling, and cracked. When you pick up the dirt, it might crumble quickly in your hands or be difficult to break apart. Proper watering and irrigation will improve the soil's condition in these instances.

How To Ensure Good Soil Is Built

To improve sandy soil:

- Work in 3 to 4 inches of organic matter such as well-rotted manure or finished compost.

- Mulch around your plants with leaves, wood chips, bark, hay or straw. Mulch retains moisture and cools the soil.

- Add at least 2 inches of organic matter each year.

- Grow cover crops or green manures.

It can be a false economy to scrimp on a soil mix and then spend a lot of money on plants, only to watch them deteriorate and die in an unhealthy growing environment. Australian soils are very thin and can often be found over a subsurface of clay or rock. They can contain a limited amount of organic matter, be low on nutrients plants need for healthy growth and be water repellent.

In order to have a healthy thriving garden area it may be necessary to install raised beds and import a nutrient rich organic soil to give plants the maintenance they need for vibrant flowering and lush foliage.

Materials in the Raw is a well established business that specialises in the supply of landscaping and building materials from multiple locations in the Sydney Metropolitan Area. We care so much about providing quality service to our customers, so please reach out if you want to know more about us or our services! You can do so by simply clicking on this and filling out a contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!