It’s hot…believe us, we know! Have you been able to stay outside long enough to check on your landscaping? Here are some tips from Omaha Landscaping Company on how to properly care for your landscape in extreme heat.

Caring for Annuals, Perennials, and Your (Beloved) Vegetable Garden 

You have probably spent hours planting beautiful flowers and a growing a vegetable garden fit for a MasterChef. You don’t want all that time to go to waste, do you? 

While it may appear like your tomato plant is thriving in extreme heat, it’s not. Although tomatoes plants grow quickly in high temperatures, the plant is not supposed to grow so quickly. Thus, this rapid growth and persistent temperatures over 90 degrees may deteriorate these vegetables. So, just as you should do with your annuals and perennials, keep the soil moist and cool. 

Water your garden early in the morning to ensure that the water will reach the roots and to avoid any excess water that may attract critters. 

Don’t Forget About Your Shrubs and Trees

We can’t say enough about the importance of mulch. Mulch prevents the quick evaporation of moisture, so your plants actually have time to use the water you braved the heat to provide to them. Placing at least 3 inches of mulch around your plants will insure that your plants remain soaked for longer periods of time. 

Pro Tip: Water in the morning hours by placing a hose near the base of the tree or shrub and running it at a slow trickle for several hours. (check out our trees)

Lawn care in Extreme Heat 

Is your lawn starting to lose some life? In the Omaha heat, you can either choose to stop watering and allow your lawn to go dormant or water twice weekly to keep your lawn alive and growing. 

Our suggestion: put in the time now. If you choose to allow your lawn to go dormant you will need to wait until cooler temperatures return before bringing your lawn back to life. This may severely impact the curb appeal of your home, increase the presence of weeds, and cost far more time and money than would keeping your lawn alive throughout the summer heat. 

Another important note: avoid fertilizing. Fertilizing is one of the worst things you can do to your plants during the long summer months. The chemicals in fertilizer can be altered in hot temperatures and can quickly kill your lawn.

We are all well aware that the weather patterns in Nebraska are highly unpredictable. Having all four seasons in one week adds to the charm of our beautiful state. However, choosing which plants to place in your yard and learning how to care for them throughout these ever-changing climates can prove to be quite challenging.  Omaha Landscaping Company is here to help! We’ve decided on 5 landscaping hacks that will allow you to maintain your yard all-year round.

1.     Don’t plant until all danger of frost has passed!

This is important particularly in your efforts to plant a vegetable garden. Most vegetables, like tomatoes and eggplants, should not be planted until after May in order to ensure their longevity.

2.     Water, Water, Water.

While everyone already knows that they need to water their plants, we are begging you to actually remember to do it! You won’t have the green, lush backyard that you have always dreamed of if your plants are thirsty. In the summer months, you should be watering your plants, and your lawn for that matter, in the morning. Watering your plants in the morning before the hot day will give the water plenty of time to soak into the soil before the day dries it up.

3.     Recycle Coffee Grounds for Fertilizer

Coffee is rich in nitrogen and can give your plants the extra kick it needs. Not only is this a better method of using your coffee grounds than just throwing them away, but by burying the grounds next to a plant that looks like it may need some extra help, you will be amazed at the results.

4.     Go the Low-Maintenance Route

Many plants, shrubs and flowers bloom without any help from their owners. These low-maintenance perennials do extremely well in cold weather and the hot summer months. Not only will this save you time in having to re-plant every year, but you will have a beautiful yard that will remain green without much work!

5.     Consult Professionals

And we aren’t just saying this because we are professionals! Deciding which plants to choose for your yard and properly caring for them is something that takes time to learn and time to actually do. Handing installation and maintenance over to professionals will insure that your yard will survive the ever-changing weather in Nebraska.

We hope that these hacks make your life a little bit easier! These hacks are simple and easy, but can do a lot to protect your landscaping investment!