Some natives may quiet their blooms in the high heat of summer to conserve energy. For others, the heat will spark fireworks of blooms. One thing is consistent – natives will outperform traditional gardens in a big way through the dog days of summer. You can help them by preserving soil moisture, reinvigorating blooms, and enjoying them thoroughly!
June
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While we’ve had a bit of rain, Los Angeles is expected to be a dry county through the summer. We’ll be putting extra effort into keeping native gardens vibrant and party ready. We will:
Get ready to party!
- Deadhead to keep summer blooms coming
- Refresh container gardens for added pop
- Check oaks for pruning (July – September)
- Check lighting for efficiency and drama
- Shine up hardscapes and ready BBQs!
Invite water to stay onsite
- Eliminate run-off and overspray
- Inspect irrigation systems for leaks
- Check the coverage of drip irrigation systems
- Keep moisture in the soil with mulch and raised mower heights
- Water by hand where necessary
July
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Los Angeles is expected to be a dry county through the summer, but that doesn’’t mean your garden needs to look desiccated! We’’ll be putting extra effort into keeping native gardens vibrant and party ready. We will:
Beautify for BBQs!
- Rinse foliage to keep it lovely and improve transpiration in high heat
- Prune Oak Trees to maintain form and shade
- Mulch to refresh garden beds and retain water
- Clip the prettiest cut flowers and foliage for indoor bouquets
- Set the stage with extra lighting, heating and container gardens at party time!
Protect Garden Beauty from Drought:
- Change timers to comply with local ordinances day and time restrictions.
- Manage timers for optimal watering (DYI? Check the BeWaterWise Calculator to determine the right schedule for your garden.)
- Eliminate run-off, overspray and leaks
- Water by hand where necessary
- Give mature trees a deep soak once a month
- Ensure native are not being overwatered – they dig the heat!
August
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Like kids taking advantage of every last summer moment, natives are soaking up this heat! They require much less water than traditional foliage. Here is what we’ll be doing to keep them happy in the dog days of summer.
Get Ready for Growth:
- Remove volunteers, invasive plants and infectious material to reduce plants and disease
- Rinse foliage to keep it lovely and improve transpiration in high heat
- Prune oak trees to maintain form and shade
- Clip the prettiest cut flowers and foliage for indoor bouquets
- Set the stage with extra lighting, heating and container gardens at party time!
Protect Garden Beauty from Drought:
- Eliminate run-off, overspray and leaks
- Water by hand where necessary
- Give mature trees a deep soak once a month
- Mulch to refresh garden beds and retain water