Summer Gardening Mistakes That Can Kill Your Plants

Summer is the season when gardens are lush and robust. Flowers are in full bloom, vegetables are abundant, and there’s always something to do in your garden. While summer tends to be the most successful growing time of year, the weather can lead to a lot of devastating problems if you don’t know what you’re doing. To ensure your plants continue to thrive this summer, there are several common mistakes you must avoid.

Some of the most problematic actions to avoid in your garden this summer include incorrect or inconsistent watering, fertilizing or transplanting during a heat wave, and neglecting to add mulch. Don’t over-prune your plants, and remember to stay hydrated and cool when working in your garden. Keep up on weeding, and don’t ignore pest issues when they arise.

Summer gardens can go from thriving to dead in a matter of days, especially if you live somewhere that experiences stretches of extreme heat and minimal rain. You don't want to kill large swaths of your garden just as it begins to peak. To help ensure you keep all your plants alive throughout this hot season, keep reading for garden mistakes to avoid this summer.

14 Summer Gardening Mistakes That Can Kill Your Plants

1. Watering In The Middle Of The Day

Several of the most common summer garden missteps involve incorrect watering. Perhaps the most one gardeners make is watering in the middle of the day. This is never a good idea when it’s hot. While it offers temporary relief for some plants, very little water seeps deep into the soil. Instead, most of it evaporates before it reaches the roots of your plants.

2. Transplanting When It’s Hot

Transplanting seedlings or young trees into the ground is a delicate process that requires careful timing and attention. Young plants are particularly vulnerable. High temperatures and intense sunlight can shock and kill these new plants before they even have a chance to establish themselves in the ground. Never transplant young plants in the middle of the day or during a stretch of hot weather. Instead, opt for cloudy, mild days with no heat wave in the future to ensure the highest survival rate.

3. Not Enough Mulch

Mulch isn’t just for show. It does make your garden beds look tidy, but it also has many practical benefits, including suppressing weeds and retaining moisture. If you don’t mulch or neglect to add enough, your plants can suffer in the summer. Water loss can become a problem, and weeds can absorb the remaining water that your garden needs. Inspect the mulch, and cover up any bald spots with a fresh layer.

4. Fertilizing During A Heat Wave

Fertilizer can work miracles for many plants, boosting growth and increasing yields of flowers and fruit. While it's a wonderful tool, you should only use it in the right conditions. Avoid using too much fertilizer when plants are young in the spring, and also never use it during the hottest days of summer. High temperatures cause many fertilizers to absorb into the soil too quickly. The sudden boost in nutrients, such as nitrogen, can shock plants and burn the roots. The result is often dead or struggling plants.

5. Over-Pruning

Pruning is an important gardening task that gives plants shape and also helps them grow for years to come. There are, however, several factors to consider when pruning your plants, including the weather. The heat of summer can weaken even your most resilient plants as can pruning, especially if the plants aren’t strong. Pruning (especially aggressive pruning) can shock and kill plants, even those that have thrived in your yard for years.

6. Shallow Watering

Watering correctly is essential to the success of a summer garden. You might think a quick watering every day is the best way to keep your plants happy, but shallow watering can actually harm them. The water needs to reach deep into the soil, so take time to water deeply. Instead of doing it every day, try longer periods fewer times a week to ensure the soil stays hydrated below the surface.

7. Placing Vulnerable Plants In Full Sun

When you map out your garden, consider the effects of intense summer sunlight. One mistake to avoid is placing vulnerable and shade-loving plants in direct sunlight. They might thrive in the spring, but they are likely to struggle and possibly die once the intense summer sun hits them. Only place sun-loving plants in direct sunlight, and add shade to your garden for less resilient species.

8. Getting Lazy With Weeding

Weeding isn’t fun, and it’s a task many people dislike. Still, weed control is crucial to the sucess of a garden. Summer provides ideal conditions for resilient weeds, which means if you neglect weeding even for a week or two, these invasive plants can start to overrun your garden. If you stop weeding, your plants will receive less water and fewer nutrients from the soil, which can eventually kill them.

9. Not Addressing Pest Issues

Summer is also peak pest season. While there are many garden pests in the spring, summer is when insects and other bugs are most abundant. One mistake to avoid is ignoring the early signs of pests. Don’t wait until it’s too late to address a pest issue, as they almost always get worse without intervention. If you see holes in your plants' leaves or any other visible signs of an infestation, find the source of the problem and eliminate it.

10. Becoming Overheated And Dehydrated

Gardening outdoors in the heat of the summer doesn’t just take a toll on your plants; it's also hard on you. There are very real health risks associated with doing manual labor in the hot summer sun and you should avoid gardening in the middle of the day and during heat waves whenever possible. Wear lightweight clothing that protects your skin, and take frequent water breaks to prevent becoming dehydrated.

11. Not Picking Fruit And Vegetables Promptly

Summer produces the highest yields in your fruit and vegetable garden. If you have a vast garden, it can be hard to keep up with all the ripe produce. While it’s a challenge, it's best to pick everything as soon as they ripen. Leaving produce to rot on the ground can attract animals, including rodents. It can also bring more pests and even mold to your garden.

12. Overcrowding Plants

One of the most common mistakes new gardeners make is overcrowding. When you first plant, you need to know how large each species will grow. If you plant seedlings too close together, your garden will be overcrowded. Plants will compete for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Overcrowding can also increase the risk of pests and mold.

13. Too Much Water 

While underwatering is a big problem in the summer, overwatering can be an equally damaging to your garden. If the soil is constantly saturated, it's likely to develop mold. All plants need water, but too much can cut off oxygen or even rot a plant’s roots.  Always check the forecast and avoid wetting the soil before it rains. You must also ensure your soil drains well.

14. Neglecting Soil Health

Never assume that just because your garden soil was healthy in the spring, it will remain that way throughout the growing season. Periodically check soil health. Look for compaction and drainage, and aerate the soil as needed. If you notice some plants in certain areas are struggling, consider checking the soil pH.

Final Notes On Gardening Mistakes To Avoid This Summer

Your garden should peak in the summer, but there are all sorts of ways that plants can shrivel up and die in this season’s intense weather. Some of the most common ways people kill plants in the summer include watering too little or too often, and neglecting to add enough mulch. Always address weeds and pests as soon as you notice them, and avoid gardening during a heat wave. Stay hydrated and wear appropriate clothing, and never transplant young plants on hot, sunny days. Pick your produce as soon as it's ripe, and don’t overcrowd your plants.

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