One thing is for sure, it wouldn’t be summer in Texas without a little heatwave. This time of year can be challenging for all of us, especially our gardens and lawns. Have no fear! We are here to help you and your landscape. Here are 5 ways you can protect your landscape, keep it colorful, and help it thrive during the extreme heat.
TIP #1: Select Plants that can Withstand Heat
Keeping your garden colorful with flowers and lush green foliage is possible during our Texas summer. For your gardening success, select plants that can withstand the heat. At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have a vast selection of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and ornamental grasses that thrive in these conditions.
Add heat-tolerant annuals to your flowerbeds and container gardens for a bright pop of summer color. Purslane, Zinnias, and Pentas bloom all summer long. They are low-maintenance outdoor plants that thrive in full sun during the day. Purslane is incredibly heat and drought-tolerant. It has small, succulent leaves with a mounding habit that will fill empty areas of your flowerbeds with colorful blooms.
Zinnias and Pentas are a summer favorite for Texas gardeners and a great choice for attracting pollinators. The vibrant and heat-tolerant blooms will shine all summer, even during the hottest conditions.
For non-stop blooms and striking color, try Lantana or Cora® XDR Vinca. Lantana is a fast-growing and drought-tolerant summer plant with bold clusters of blooms that will last through the fall. It is low-maintenance and adaptable to both dry and moist conditions.
Cora® XDR Vinca is an easy-to-grow summer flower that will thrive in your Texas garden. It is known for its strong color and sun-loving blooms. Cora® XDR Vinca is ideal for planting in flowerbeds, container gardens, and hanging baskets. In fact, planting in containers gives you even more control over your plant care. You can easily move your planters to shadier areas if needed, and you can better monitor the moisture levels.
Learn how to update your container gardens for the summer here!
Drought-tolerant perennials are a fantastic option for your summer garden. They provide year-long foliage and re-blooming beauty. Yucca and Salvia add beautiful masses of color and dynamic texture to any flowerbed. They thrive in full sun and are a great choice for xeriscaping. Yucca has gorgeous arching foliage that will add glamour to your landscape design.
Salvia has good weather resistance with long-lasting blooms. This heat-tolerant perennial should be grown in full sun with well-draining soil.
Summer can be colorful if you plan for our Texas climate and weather conditions. Need more inspiration? Visit our blog here: Texas-Approved Summer Flowers for a Lush & Colorful Garden
TIP #2: Watering Rules for Hot Weather Gardens
Effective and efficient watering is essential to maintaining the health of any summer garden. The frequency should increase this time of year because proper soil moisture is necessary for plant production, and watering correctly will prevent you from wasting resources and money.
When is the best time to water your plants in hot weather? Deep watering in the morning is the key to your success. Our plants need at least one inch per week, whether from rain or supplemental watering. Giving your plants water in the morning gives them more time to absorb the nutrients before the water starts evaporating into the hot afternoon sun.
Water deeply into the root system and avoid overhead watering. Deep watering encourages stronger roots, and it ensures that your plants are getting a good, quality drink without waste and runoff. Use a soaker hose for efficient watering. Try the Flexon™ Weep & Soak Hose. It is the ultimate slow soaker with even moisture distribution deep into the ground.
TIP #3: The Importance of Mulch for Summer Gardens
Mulch is one of the best ways to protect your garden from extreme heat. Adding a thick layer that is a few inches deep to your flowerbeds, and around your trees and shrubs is vital to prevent water evaporation and to maintain soil moisture.
Adding mulch around your plants will help conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weed growth.
At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have a wonderful collection of premium organic mulches. Calloway’s Organic Hardwood Mulch is a fine choice for your summer garden. The 100% organic shredded wood mats together, creating a protective shield over your plant’s roots that won’t wash away.
Our Organic Cedar Mulch is made from 100% organic shredded Cedar. It provides visual appeal as a top dressing, and it can even repel pesky mosquitoes. Complete the look of your summer flowerbed and protect your plants with gorgeous organic mulch!
TIP #4: Feeding Your Plants in the Summer
With a higher frequency of watering during the summer, the nutrients will be depleted quickly. To thrive in hot weather, summer annuals and vegetables require nourishment to sustain their energy levels.
Choose the right fertilizer such as Calloway’s Premium Flower Food. This premium flower food contains a balanced blend of macronutrients and micronutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, that are necessary for optimal growth and flowering. For a natural and organic approach, try Calloway’s Natural Lawn & Garden Food. Our natural fertilizer is great for lawns, vegetable gardens, and flowerbeds.
TIP #5: Pest Prevention and Control
Pest prevention is key for a happy Texas garden, and it will greatly impact the health of your plants. Check for signs of damage from insects or disease. Pests can injure plants directly by eating leaves and burrowing holes in the stems or roots. They can quickly spread devastating diseases from plant to plant.
Spider mites love hot weather and aphids appear when it gets nice and humid. In Texas, we get to enjoy both during the summer. Spider mites can commonly be found on roses, marigolds, and tomatoes. Check your trees for webworms, look for chinch bugs in your lawn, and examine your crapemyrtles for aphids.
At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have a fantastic selection of insect and pest control products available in concentrated formulas and ready-to-use bottles. BioAdvanced® NATRIA Insect, Disease, & Mite Control is an effective pesticide that kills pests like aphids, caterpillars, spider mites, and white flies while eliminating black spots, powdery mildew, rust, & other listed diseases. BioAdvanced® Complete Insect Killer protects your soil and turf from disease and harmful pests.
For an organic approach to pest control, Bonide® Insecticidal Super Soap is fast-acting and controls over 30 insects. It can even stop powdery mildew. Bonide® Neem Oil is an all-purpose insecticide, miticide, and fungicide for organic gardening that is derived from the Neem seed. Use in the early morning or late evening to avoid leaf burn.
Shop with Ease
At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have everything you need to keep your garden thriving this summer!
Visit us today and explore our entire collection of heat-tolerant flowers, lush foliage, stately trees and shrubs, stylish pottery, potting soil, and so much more! Shop one of our 28 neighborhood stores, serving our loyal customers for over 35 years.
Have questions? Ask our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals; they are here to help!
