An Iowa Summer To Do List For Your Lawn

The summer has lived up to its reputation so far this year – temperatures are consistently reaching the 90s and served with a side of humidity. The extreme temperatures can add stress to landscape so it’s important to keep a watchful eye on your lawn, trees and other plants. Not only will they appreciate the extra attention but it will help them survive the remainder of the summer and prepare for colder months to come. We’ve created a checklist of things to pay attention to during the rest of the summer here in Iowa.

Trees and shrubs

• Prune branches so they don’t fall during storms
• Deadhead roses to promote flowering
• Apply extra mulch around the roots of trees and shrubs to hold in moisture

Perennials and bulbs

• Prune perennials to encourage blooming
• Cut flowers in the morning while there’s extra moisture

Annuals and containers

• Water container plants frequently when weather is hot
• Add a balanced fertilizer every couple of weeks
• Deadhead blossoms to promote flowering
• Start seeds for winter annuals

Lawns

• Make sure your lawn gets 1 inch of water per week
• Stop fertilizing your lawn in mid-summer

Vegetables and herbs

• Add compost to vegetable gardens for improved soil structure and increased nutrient content
• Harvest veggies
• For maximum flavor, harvest herbs just as the buds appear

What other landscape must-dos should we add to this list? Share with us how you get your home in shape for summer in the comments below or on this Facebook post.