Midseason Garden Care Tips

Introduction

By midseason, Ontario gardens have blossomed into beautiful, lush sanctuaries! However, maintaining these vibrant displays requires more than just the occasional watering. The warm and dry summers we often get in Ontario necessitate specific care strategies to keep your plants flourishing. Here, we’ll provide some midseason garden care tips and explore how Acti-Sol fertilizers can give your plants a much-needed midsummer boost.

Important Gardening Activities

Some midseason maintenance tasks are necessary even if they were performed earlier in the season. Here’s a quick rundown of why each step is still essential:

Mulching & Watering

Replenish: Over time, mulch can break down or be displaced by wind and rain. Replenishing it keeps the soil adequately covered, which helps retain moisture and prevent weeds.
Refresh Appearance: Adding a fresh layer can also improve the visual appeal of your garden.

Adjust for Weather: As the weather warms up, your garden might need more frequent watering. Monitor soil moisture and adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

Pruning & Deadheading

Continued Growth: Plants can develop new growth that requires pruning or flowers that need deadheading to prolong blooming.
Prevent Disease: Removing diseased or damaged branches helps prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

Fertilizing

Depleted Nutrients: Plants use up the nutrients in the soil over time, so a midsummer application of fertilizer like Acti-Sol can replenish these essential nutrients, ensuring continued growth and productivity.

Sustained Growth: Midseason fertilizing helps maintain the vigour and productivity of your plants as they continue to grow and produce flowers or fruit.

Pest & Disease Management

Ongoing Monitoring: Pests and diseases can emerge or increase in midseason. Regular inspections and timely interventions are essential to keep your garden healthy.
Integrated Pest Management: Implementing a combination of biological, cultural, and mechanical controls can effectively manage pest populations and reduce the need for chemical treatments.

1. Mulching & Water Management

Mulching

Retain Moisture: A 2-3 inch layer of mulch can retain soil moisture during Ontario’s warm, dry spells. This is particularly important for maintaining a consistent moisture level in the soil, which is essential for the healthy growth of your plants.
Weed Control: Mulch minimizes the growth of weeds that compete with your plants for nutrients. A well-mulched garden also reduces the need for frequent weeding, saving you time and effort.
Temperature Regulation: Mulch helps regulate soil temperature by keeping the soil cooler during hot summer days and warmer during cool nights. This creates a more stable environment for plant roots.

Watering

Consistent Schedule: Water deeply once or twice a week, especially for newly planted perennials and annuals. Deep watering encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil, making plants more drought-resistant.
Morning Hydration: Water in the early morning to reduce evaporation and provide hydration before the day’s heat. This practice also helps prevent fungal diseases when plants remain wet overnight.

Managing Heat Stress in Plants

Shade Protection: Use shade cloths or plant umbrellas to protect sensitive plants from the intense midday sun. This can prevent leaf scorch and other damage caused by excessive heat.
Hydration Methods: Employ drip irrigation systems or soaker hoses to ensure consistent moisture without overwatering. These methods deliver water directly to the soil, reducing evaporation and runoff.

2. Pruning & Deadheading

Pruning

Health Check: Remove any damaged or diseased branches to maintain plant health. Regular pruning also improves air circulation within the plant canopy, reducing the risk of fungal infections.
Shape Control: Pruning helps control the shape and size of your shrubs and trees. It encourages a more attractive growth habit and prevents plants from becoming too large for their space.

Deadheading

Extended Bloom: Removing spent flowers from annuals and perennials encourages continuous blooming. This practice redirects the plant’s energy from seed production to new flower development.
Aesthetic Appeal: Deadheading keeps your garden looking tidy and well-maintained. It prevents the accumulation of unsightly, withered blooms.

Lawn-specific Care

Mowing Practices: Maintain a healthy lawn by mowing at the recommended height of 2.5 to 3 inches. This helps promote deeper root growth and better drought resistance. Avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass height at a time to prevent stress.
Watering: Water your lawn deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth. Early morning watering reduces evaporation and ensures the grass absorbs the moisture it needs. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, including rainfall.

3. Fertilizing with Acti-Sol

Soil Health

Testing: Midseason is an ideal time to test your soil’s pH and nutrient levels. Soil test kits are available at garden centers, or you can send a sample to a local agricultural extension office. Adjust the pH as needed.
Amendments: To improve soil structure and fertility, consider organic soil amendments, such as compost or Acti-Sols fertilizer made of organic matter. Regularly adding organic matter enhances the soil’s water-holding capacity and microbial activity.

Why Acti-Sol?

Organic Certification: Acti-Sol is a natural hen manure fertilizer that is environmentally friendly and suitable for various garden plants. Its natural composition supports healthy soil microbiology.
Nutrient-Rich: The fertilizer is rich in essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, promoting robust plant growth. These nutrients are released slowly, providing a steady supply over time.

Application Tips

Balanced Application: Acti-Sol offers a range of formulas tailored to different plants, including vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Follow product-specific instructions for optimal plant growth.
Timing: Apply the fertilizer early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the harsh midday sun to help ensure efficient nutrient uptake.

Benefits

Midsummer Boost: Acti-Sol provides plants with a consistent nutrient source, improving resilience against Ontario’s unpredictable weather. Well-nourished plants are better equipped to withstand stress from heat and drought.
Yield Improvement: Studies have shown that regular use can lead to a 15-20% increase in vegetable yield and larger, more vibrant flowers. Healthier plants also produce better-quality fruits and blooms.

4. Pest & Disease Management

Integrated Pest Management: Regularly inspect plants for pests and employ natural remedies or insecticidal soaps as needed. Beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and lacewings, can also help control pest populations.
Disease Prevention: Good air circulation, proper spacing, and removing diseased plant material can minimize disease spread. Avoid overhead watering, which can promote fungal growth. Read more about pest management.
Read More: As you check for pests, look for invasive pests and plant species to help the natural ecosystem and environment. Please check out our other blog for more details about invasive species.

Dealing with Common Pests & Diseases

Pest Identification: Common July pests in Ontario include aphids, spider mites, and Japanese beetles. For aphids, you can use insecticidal soap. Spider mites can be controlled with a strong stream of water or miticides. Hand-picking Japanese beetles or using pheromone traps can help manage their population.
Disease Symptoms: Watch for symptoms of common plant diseases like powdery mildew, characterized by white, powdery spots on leaves, and blight, which causes dark, water-soaked spots on leaves and stems. To treat powdery mildew, apply sulphur-based fungicides. For blight, remove and destroy affected plant parts and apply copper-based fungicides.

Additional Mid-Season Harvesting Care Tips

Timing: Harvest popular midseason crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans when they reach their peak flavour and nutrition. Tomatoes should be fully coloured, cucumbers should be firm and green, and beans should snap easily when bent.
Techniques: Use clean, sharp tools to harvest your crops. This prevents damage to the plants and reduces the risk of disease. Harvesting in the morning, when temperatures are cooler, can preserve the quality of your produce.

Attracting Pollinators

Midseason is an ideal time to plant flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to help do some of the garden care for you. These insects are essential for pollinating many garden plants, ensuring continued fruit and vegetable production and enhancing overall garden health.

Flower Selection: Consider adding midseason bloomers such as lavender, echinacea, bee balm, and sunflowers. These plants provide nectar and pollen during the crucial midseason period when many other flowers may be past their peak.
Native Plants: Incorporate native plants, which are well-adapted to local conditions and provide excellent resources for native pollinators and wildlife.
Planting Tips: Group pollinator-friendly plants together to make it easier for bees and butterflies to locate them. Avoid using pesticides, which can harm these beneficial insects.
Avoid Chemicals: Reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides and herbicides. Opt for natural pest control methods to maintain a healthy garden ecosystem.

Bird Baths and Feeders

Supporting local wildlife by installing bird baths and feeders can greatly benefit your garden. Birds help control insect populations, providing a natural form of pest management.

Bird Baths: Place bird baths in shaded areas to keep the water cool and fresh. Change the water regularly to prevent the spread of disease.
Bird Feeders: Use a variety of feeders to attract different bird species. Ensure feeders are clean and placed in safe locations away from predators.

Start Planning for Fall

Mid-season is a time to care for the garden you have brought to life. It is also an important time to prepare so you can continue to enjoy and care for your garden during the rest of the summer and fall.

Transitional Planting: In July, start planning and planting fall crops like broccoli, kale, and carrots. These crops can be sown directly into the garden or started indoors and transplanted later. Use succession planting techniques to ensure a continuous harvest and make the most of your garden space.
Seed Saving: Save seeds from your best-performing plants to use in next year’s garden. Choose healthy, disease-free plants and allow the seeds to mature fully on the plant before harvesting. Store seeds in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant them.

Summary

Maintaining a garden through Ontario’s midseason requires a strategic approach, including mulching, watering, pruning, harvesting, and fertilizing. Acti-Sol fertilizers provide an organic, nutrient-rich solution to give your plants a healthy midsummer boost while being safe for beneficial pollinators, pets, and people. By following these proactive care tips and incorporating Acti-Sol into your routine, your garden can thrive throughout the season. Enjoy the delicious fruits and vegetables and beautiful flowers of your labour with your loved ones. It’s important to care for your garden, but also remember to celebrate and enjoy it—because that’s what it’s all about.