Post date: Jun 9, 2020 9:47:40 PM
Summer notes - Air
Each season has its reigning feature that dominates the health of the garden. For the summer it has to be air.
Without air circulation, your plants won’t be happy and healthy. The combination of heat and the moisture of the summer rains in Atlanta is a breeding ground for fungal infections. Air is your savior. Some notes for care and comfort in the hot summers.
1. Do not water the plants in the evening. The combination of hot and wet soil is ideal breeding ground for fungal infections. Water early morning, preferably before the sun heats up the yard.
2. Space the plants out so they don’t crowd up. Remove weeds, compost extras and volunteers you don’t need and ensure that plants can spread out to their full height and breadth.
3. Trim off the lower branches and leaves as the summer progresses. The air circulation for plants is from ground up. Keep the bottom one foot of main stem free of any growth.
4. Don’t spray the leaves. Wet leaves attract fungal infections. Plants like cucumber are specially more vulnerable to such diseases.
5. Don’t walk into the yard without a pruner. Trim and chop as you see dense growth and allow branches to breath and sway in wind.
6. Fasten plants to stakes, poles and support as needed. Don’t allow plants to touch soil needlessly. Keep them off the ground.
Good air circulation in your yard also means fewer mosquitoes and other flying insects that breed in moist places. A dry top and a consistently moist soil below is your ideal garden bed. Good air circulation will ensure that.
Another note on mulch coming up soon :)