I hope you’ve been enjoying your time in the garden this summer and if you just haven’t had the time to do much maintenance yet (gasp!) it’s about time you get out there!  So here are a few tips for you when taking care of your garden for the remainder of the summer.  Don’t worry, I’ve got fall tips I’ll share with you later…

Pull Weeds:  Pull all warm-season weeds (crab grass, creeping charlie – pictured, foxtail) and volunteer trees (ash, elm, hackberry, boxelder, buckthorn) prior to the Fourth of July (eek, don’t worry you can still pull them now, and should as soon as you see them pop up; besides we all know weeds don’t just stop growing after the 4th of July!).  Monitor weed emergence throughout the growing season and pull as necessary.

Inspection:  After large rain events, make sure the garden is draining in less than 24 hours.  Always inspect for signs of erosion throughout the season.  If erosion occurs, re-grade the eroded area and replant with a clump-forming grass or sedge, such as Side-Oats Grama, ‘Karl Forester’ Feather Reed Grass, or Bebb’s Oval Sedge.  If the erosion continues, place large cobblestones or boulders in the eroded area.  This will minimize the incoming water’s energy.  Pay close attention to the side-slops of the garden as these areas are especially susceptible to erosion.

Water:  In times of drought, give your garden a drink.  This is especially important during the first two years of the garden’s life, when plants are establishing their root systems.

Take Pictures:  Please remember to document your garden and its progress.  Send us your pictures and we might nominate you for a garden award!

Metro Blooms’ complete raingarden maintenance guide can be accessed on our website and highlights the essential maintenance activities for every season.  Remember, if you do the little things now you’ll ensure that you have a beautiful and efficient raingarden for years to come!