Let's start with caring for your lawn. In the summer the amount of water needed and the frequency of watering your lawn should be increased. Not only are there more hours of daylight and therefore more opportunities for evaporation of moisture but winds dry out plants faster than higher temperatures. Combine high temperature with high winds and you have a recipe for disaster, or at least brown spots and a dry, brittle lawn. You have probably heard some conflicting opinions regarding when you should water your lawn in the summer time. Scientifically speaking, it is best to water your plants both during a time when the water will not evaporate too quickly, but when evaporation happens quickly enough to avoid giving the grass and soil a change for fungal growth. This translates into watering in the morning hours as the best time to turn on your sprinklers.

Missing only one day of watering potted plants could spell disaster. When it comes to potted plants that you keep outdoors, in the summer time you want to water until water comes out of drainage holes, then repeat 20 minutes later to ensure that all roots stay moist. Make sure that your potted plants have adequate drainage so that water cannot pool at the bottom of the pot and create a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Summer time is a time when most people leave on vacation for a week or two. Maintain plants while on vacation by following these simple steps. First, rake the mulch back from the ground (like you are digging a hole). Next, put the potted plants on the soil, having multiple potted plants sitting next to each other. Redistribute the sod around the plants and water the plants, surrounding sod, and ground around where the plants are sitting.

Fertilizer is not recommended in the summer time. Fertilizer actually increases the need for watering and can therefore burn summer plants and grass patches. Instead, keep your grass longer in the summer time. By doing so you will need to water less often, and when you do water, the ground will dry out less quickly. If you have tall trees in your yard, they should not need any additional care in the summer time as long as the lawn is well watered. Fruit trees and other smaller trees still need to be watered and mulch needs to be placed at the base of the tree. Break up mulch regularly to ensure water circulation. Replace old mulch with fresh mulch every summer

Some plants fare better than others in the summer. If you are planning on adding to your outdoor garden, make sure that you do your research before making a purchase. Unless you have a green thumb, you will want to avoid buying plants that will require a good deal of attention. Plus, you would much rather be enjoying a garden than, spending all your time working in one.