With the searing heat that has been baking a large portion of the country for the past few days, many people have been staying indoors more than usual, trying to get relief from fans and air-conditioners.  An unabashed member of that group, I, too have been skipping a lot of my normal outdoor activities during the day.  Furthermore, I refuse to go anywhere that’s not cool (although that’s my year-round policy).

Fortunately, the evenings, though still quite warm, have been tolerable.  In fact, just to get my fill of the outdoors, I have considered sleeping on a lounge chair in my screened gazebo, under the outdoor ceiling fan.  Moreover, I’ve found that other people have thought about, or actually done, similar things.  The other night, as a bunch of us sat around a friend’s picnic table, one of her neighbors announced that she had slept on her swingbed.  After that, somebody else said that a friend of his had spent the past two nights in his backyard hammock.

Nearly everyone I have talked to recently has neglected outdoor chores as well.  It really is amazing how certain weather conditions can change our lifestyles, and throw us off our routines.  Luckily, it’s a temporary situation, as July is one of the busiest months for gardening, and a time when we can ill afford to postpone yard work.  Maybe our lawns can go for awhile without water, because they’ll recover quickly; but flowers and vegetables need attention, especially in areas that haven’t had much rain lately.

Annuals, for example, may be very thirsty now, particularly if they’re newly-planted and trying to establish roots.  Snipping or pinching off spent blossoms is another good way to revitalize plants, and help their roots to grow.  Cutting them back to half their size, and fertilizing them, will give them a second bloom.  If you want to add a dash of panache to dull areas, get some colorful, new plants that are ready to go right from their pots, into the ground.  Transplant and deadhead perennials this month as well.

Container plants, too, can become extremely parched during the summer, and may sometimes require watering twice a day.  They’re worth the extra effort, though, as planters are also ideal for adding pizzazz to the landscape.   Because they can go anywhere, you can put them in garden beds to fill bare spots, arrange them on patios, porches, and gazebos, or line them up along walkways, railings, or steps.  You can also move them around to give them more sun, or shade, when necessary.  To make things even more spectacular, use a variety of planters in several colors and sizes, along with planter trellises and planter benches.

Indeed, there’s much to be accomplished in the garden this month; but it’s more important to take it easy, even in seasonable temperatures.  If you feel that you need a break, just plant yourself in an outdoor chair, under a shady tree, and water yourself thoroughly.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy