Bradenton landscaping and lawn care are hard in the summertime. The grass grows fast and the sun beats down for a long time, every day.
So if you’re going light on the gardening these days, we can’t blame you. But there are positives to planting new landscaping in the summer in Bradenton. While watering newly installed plants can be tricky this time of year, and there’s also risk for heat stress, summer can be good for plants to establish root systems—especially for certain plants that are actively growing this time of year.
Of course, you don’t actually have to do the planting. That’s our job! And we’ll be sure that your new plants are properly installed and arranged in order to maximize water and shade where it’s needed most.
Here’s how to plant the best summer landscape in Bradenton.
Select Heat-Resistant Plants
Flowers for Color
We may be wilting in this weather, but there are flower species that absolutely pop. If you want something that will brighten your view (as you look out from your air-conditioned home) like hibiscus, zinnia, marigolds, lantanas, pentas, and plumbago, to name just a few of many. Also, though not actually flowers, coleus make a colorful addition to home landscaping, and they love warm weather and sunshine!
Trees for Shade (and more Color)
To add a little height to your summer landscaping, consider some beautiful, sun-loving tree options like crape myrtles and magnolias. (Bear in mind, however, that hurricanes can easily topple newly planted trees, especially when the soil is already saturated.)
Mulch!
A little bit of damp soil doesn’t stand a chance against the Florida summer sun. Moisture escapes quickly through evaporation, so you need a protective layer over the soil’s surface to keep as much water down there for the roots as possible. You can use traditional wood-chip mulch or opt for something organic like pine bark or even pine straw. Don’t be stingy with it! Mulch isn’t going to damage your plants so long as it’s not actually piled up on top of them. In fact, it’ll help keep weeds and pests in check, too!
Water a Lot (But Not Too Much)
You can’t skimp on water for newly planted landscapes, especially in the summer time. Here’s one place where expert guidance can really come in handy. Not only can Big South give you a rundown of how much water your new plants need, we can design and install an irrigation system that will take care of that for you. (In fact, redoing your landscaping is a perfect time to get a new irrigation system installed in Bradenton. We can do both, and that way the install won’t threaten the plants because we won’t have installed them yet!)
Provide Adequate Shade
This is where professional landscape design is really necessary. The arrangement of the plants themselves, as well as where they are in relation to your home and its architectural features, will make or break your new landscape. Which side of the house is the landscaping on? When during a summer day will this tree be casting a shadow over these plants? Where can we put certain plants so they don’t get too much afternoon sun?
Planning a landscape is a lot more complicated than digging a couple holes and throwing some flowers in there. And during summer in Bradenton, landscaping gets that much trickier. But it is possible! You just need to do it right so you’ve still got a beautiful landscape come October.
