The Complete Summer Gardening Checklist for Beginners

If you enjoy spending time outdoors and immersing yourself in nature, gardening is the perfect summer hobby. Tending to your garden can help you relax, boost your mood, and even serve as aerobic exercise. 

Whether you want to grow vegetables, herbs, or flowers, getting started isn't tricky when you have the correct information. 

This summer gardening checklist will help you grow beautiful plants and keep them healthy all season, even if you don't have the greenest thumb!

Create a Plan

Depending on the size of your yard, you may want to plot out some space for gardens on your property. Think of what you want to plant and calculate how much room you need to grow it. 

You will likely need to rent or buy a rototiller to dig up the grass and aerate the soil if you are starting from scratch. 

Another option is to purchase or build raised beds, which you can fill with dirt. These also make an excellent space for gardens in urban areas.

Mulch 

Mulching your garden is one of the best things you can do for the health of your plants. It shields the soil from the sun, keeping it cooler and moist. Thanks to garden mulch, you won't have to water as often! 

Weed

One of the biggest summer garden maintenance tasks is weeding. Weeds spring up every day during the hottest months of the year, and if you aren't vigilant, they can take over your garden in the blink of an eye. 

The danger of weeds is that they steal nutrients and moisture from your plants and foster diseases and pests. 

For best results, pull weeds while they're small since this is before they produce seeds and multiply. Moisten the ground first to make them easier to uproot. 

Add Pops of Color

Many annuals that bloom in spring start to fade in the summer heat. Pull these out if you want to keep your garden looking its best. Then, replace them with summer-loving flowers for gardens, such as:

• Coleus 
• Zinnia
• Marigolds
• Begonias
• Pentas
• Geraniums

These will thrive in the heat and keep your garden colorful all summer. 

Pinch Late-Blooming Perrenials

It would help if you used your garden growing tools to pinch or trim back fall-blooming flowers in May and June. These include: 

• Mums
• Goldenrod
• Balloon flowers
• Bee balm

Pinching off the tops creates side shoots, leading to more blooms.

Water 

Summer garden watering may be a big chore if you live in a dry climate. Aim to supply your garden with about one inch of water weekly, all at once if you prefer. Be sure to spray the water on the dirt rather than the plants since wet leaves can lead to disease. 

Use This Summer Gardening Checklist as a Guide!

Caring for a garden is a lot of work, especially in the summer. Yet, the beautiful flowers and fresh veggies you grow will be well worth your time and effort!

Be sure to save this summer gardening checklist so you can refer back to it all summer. And if you'd like to learn more about home and garden advice, read more of our content!