Summer is always the most desirable season for many gardeners. The reason is that summer enables the opportunity to get a substantial yield of veggies, fruits, and flowers as the weather facilitates with several favorable factors like abundant sunny, good air circulation, appropriate rainfall, and many more.
To exploit the full potential of this season, you must realize that you must initiate the summer garden preparation process before even the season starts. Some say it starts in early spring; I oppose this as it is just a waste of the land. My personal opinion is to start summer garden preparation in the middle or last spring.
Why? Go through my elaboration on when and how to prepare your garden for summer to know the reasons effectively.
Why Early Prepare Your Garden for Summer
The following are the reasons.
Ample Time in Soil Preparation
If you start preparing your summer garden early, it will provide you ample time to assess the soil health. Following this, you will identify the soil amending needs and initiate addressing approaches.
Here, the soil amending process, as part of the early preparation, will help the used organic or inorganic matter to mix perfectly with the soil.
Additionally, starting early also allows you to address the issues with soil drainage capacity and compaction.
Effective Weed Control
Weeds are one of the major enemies of your summer garden as the weeds trigger competition for water, nutrients, and sunlight. In your early summer garden preparation, you also go for weed control to reduce the effort and time requirements during the summer in this task.
You take preventive measures to control weed generation, like applying mulch, extracting existing weeds perfectly, etc. Most importantly, early tilling or cultivating disrupts the germination of weed seeds, allowing you to stay ahead of weed growth.
Pest Management
As you start preparing the summer garden early, you receive the opportunity to explore the most suitable pest prevention measures considering the planned plant types.
Here, you introduce the beneficial pests, install nettings, or start growing companion plants. All these benefit you during the summer gardening.
Effective Use of the Garden Space
Early summer garden preparation does not necessarily mean that you only take care of soil health, prevent pests, etc., but it also enables the opportunity to go for effective use of the garden space.
As you start early, you can spend ample time in the selection of desired flowers, fruit, or veggies. This selection allows you to allocate the space accordingly.
Succession Planting
Starting early means you will receive an extended harvest season. It allows you to get fresh food and flowers daily for a long time, excluding the requirement of storage.
A mix of quick and late-maturing plants gives you production for the whole season and sometimes beyond the season.
When to Start Preparing Your Summer Garden
As mentioned in the introduction, I do not suggest starting your summer garden preparation in the early spring. The reason is that if you start in the early spring, you will miss the opportunity to harvest spring fruits, veggies, or flowers as the land will be reserved for the summer plantation.
Also, starting summer garden preparation in the spring imposes a vast timeline between the preparation start and the summer start. Most of the time, this time slot ruins the effectiveness of early preparation works.
So, I strongly recommend you start your summer garden preparation in the mid or late spring. Check out these considerations.
Start Preparing in Mid-Spring
If you are planning to grow the following fruits, flowers, and vegetables, you must start preparing your summer garden in the mid-spring.
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Squash and zucchini
- Beans
- Corn
- Basil
- Sunflower
- Zinnias
- Marigold, and so on.
Start Preparing in Late-Spring
If you are planning to grow the items below in your summer garden, you must start the preparation process in late spring.
- Eggplants
- Okra
- Melon
- Pumpkin
- Cilantro
- Herbs
- Annual Vines, etc.
However, I must notify you that weather is a critical fact here.
How to Prepare Your Garden for Summer
As you are now sure when to start the summer garden preparation process, it is time to go for preparing the garden. Follow the stepwise guide below to do that.
Step 01: Clean Up the Garden Space
Start by removing the dirt, debris, dead leaves, roots, and body parts from previous plantings, weeds, etc. Also, do the weeding. Ensure that the respective garden space is free from weeds.
Step 02: Prepare the Soil
Now, collect the soil sample and go for a soil test using the nearby facility. Upon getting the result, pinpoint issues with the soil and consult the solutions. For instance, if the soil pH is very high, use elemental sulfur to reduce the soil pH.
On the other hand, if the soil pH is low, agricultural lime can be used to increase the soil pH. Also, in general, you must apply compost to improve the overall nutrient condition, structure, and drainage capacity of the soil.
Step 03: Plan the Garden Layout
At this stage, you have to decide on plant types. Upon you decide which veggie or fruit you are about to grow, calculate each plant type’s sunlight requirement, irrigation need, spacing, companion plant, etc.
Then, based on the outcome, use pen and paper to draw the layout of your summer garden. Based on the identified requirements for each plant, select the respective soil bed’s location in the garden.
Step 04: Indoor Seeding
Well, at the above stage, your garden preparation is nearly done. But, if you want more production throughout the summer, you must start seed germination at the last segment of the late spring.
To do so, arrange containers with adequate drainage facilities. Fill the containers with high-quality soil mix. Then, sow the seeds according to the respective plant’s seed-sowing guidelines.
Step 05: Preparing Soil Beds
While the seeds go through germination, you must prepare soil beds for the respective plant types. Again, do the cleaning of the whole space. Now, divide the whole garden space according to the created layout.
Keep a few inches of gaps in between the different soil beds. Use a garden fork or tiller to improve aeration and drainage. Also, organic or inorganic fertilizers should be applied to improve the soil’s nutrient level.
I highly recommend you add a layer of organic mulch to the garden beds. This mulch layer will help you with weed suppression, soil moisture retention, and soil temperature regulation.
To create the mulch, you can use organic substances like straw, shredded leaves, and grass clippings. Finally, you must water the soil beds regularly.
Step 06: Checking the Irrigation System
Water is one of the most essential elements for the survival and growth of plants. Without getting the appropriate amount of water, the plants won’t grow as per standard, and you will get a degraded harvest.
So, put your best efforts into ensuring that every soil bed you have created is equipped with efficient water supply systems.
Step 07: Other Small Tasks
If you reside in an area where there is a higher possibility of birds or other animals attacking the plants, you must install protective nets.
Also, as per precautionary measures, you have to go for companion plants to reduce the vulnerabilities of pests and diseases.
End Talk
So, now you have a clear idea about when and how to prepare your garden for summer. It is better that you start the preparation process in the mid-spring.
By using the given stepwise guide for summer garden preparation, you will be able to have a fascinating summer garden that not only looks good but also provides a substantial harvest.
Finally, if you are new to summer gardening, I suggest you consult with experienced gardeners about the plant selection.
