05 Jul Essential summer garden maintenance and safety tips

Summer is the perfect time to immerse yourself in the beauty and tranquillity of your garden, but it’s also the ideal time to improve your garden too. 

However, whilst the warm weather and long days provide ample opportunity to enjoy the fruits of your labour, maintaining and spending a lot of time in your garden during the summer months comes with its own set of challenges. 

To help you keep your garden in pristine condition and ensure that you and your family stay safe whilst doing so, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of 14 summer garden maintenance tips and 15 summer garden safety tips. 

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a novice with a budding interest, these tips will guide you in creating a refreshed garden for summer – and help you stay happy and healthy whilst doing so. Get started today!

14 summer garden maintenance tips

Looking to spend a lot of time enjoying the summer in your garden this year? Keep it in tip top shape by following our 14 summer garden maintenance tips:

1. Keep up with your driveway gate maintenance

Before you even start on your summer garden maintenance, take some time over the summer months to prioritise maintaining your driveway gate too. Not only does a well maintained driveway gate add to your home’s overall aesthetic appeal, but it also makes your home more secure.

Summer is the perfect time for driveway gate maintenance because the weather is ideal to tackle any repairs and paint jobs that need doing. It’s also a good time to prepare for the upcoming autumn and winter months, ensuring the gate is in top shape to withstand harsh weather conditions.

2. Water your garden wisely

Watering your garden early in the morning or late in the evening during summer helps to minimise water loss due to evaporation. This ensures that more water reaches the roots where it is needed most. 

Deep watering, which involves soaking the soil thoroughly, is more beneficial than frequent shallow watering because it encourages plants to develop deep, strong root systems, making them more resilient to drought throughout the warmer months.

3. Mulch around your plants

Applying mulch around your plants offers several benefits. It helps retain soil moisture by reducing water evaporation, suppresses weed growth by blocking out sunlight, and regulates soil temperature, to help keep it cooler during hot days and warmer during cool nights. 

Organic mulches, such as wood chips, straw, or compost, also add nutrients to the soil as they decompose – giving more life to your plants and reducing the need to use synthetic and chemical plant food.

4. Weed your garden regularly

Regular weeding is crucial to maintaining a healthy garden throughout the summer months. Weeds compete with your plants for nutrients, water, and sunlight – all of which can be a fight to obtain on hot days. By removing them promptly, you can ensure that your garden plants get the resources they need to thrive. 

Consistent weeding also prevents weeds from seeding and spreading, making your garden maintenance less of a heavy task when you want to be enjoying the warmer months.

5. Prune your plants

Pruning involves removing dead or overgrown branches and stems from your plants. This practice promotes healthy plant growth by allowing better air circulation and sunlight penetration (which you’ll have a lot of in summer), as well as reducing the risk of disease. It also helps shape the plants, encourages new growth, and can increase flower and fruit production over time.

6. Fertilise your plants

Plants need nutrients to grow, and fertilising replenishes these nutrients in the soil. Use the appropriate fertiliser for your plants – whether it’s a general-purpose fertiliser or one tailored to specific needs (e.g. for flowering plants, vegetables, or lawns). Follow the recommended application rates and schedules to avoid over-fertilising, which can harm plants and the environment.

Where possible, invest in organic fertiliser or use compost, reducing the amount of synthetic chemicals you’re adding to the plants in your garden. 

7. Keep on top of pest control

During the summer, you need to regularly monitor your garden for signs of pests – this could look like chewed leaves, discoloured foliage, or visible insects. Promptly address any infestations using eco-friendly methods, such as by applying insecticidal soaps or neem oil, or by introducing beneficial insects that prey on pests. 

Avoid using any harsh chemicals that can harm beneficial insects and the environment, as well as the plants in your garden.

8.  Deadhead your flowers

As flowers usually bloom during the summer months, deadheading, or removing spent blooms, encourages your plants to produce more flowers instead of focusing energy on seed production. This practice not only keeps your garden looking tidy, but also prolongs the blooming period and improves the overall health and vigour of flowering plants.

Did you know that flowers also attract birds into your garden? By keeping them flourishing, you can welcome flying friends into your garden all year round.

9. Support your plants

Tall plants, and those bearing heavy fruits in summer, may need additional support to prevent them from bending or breaking. Use stakes, cages, or trellises to provide the necessary support. 

Make sure to secure the plants gently to their support to avoid damaging their stems, ensuring that you help them grow upright and healthy.

10. Harvest your homegrown fruit and vegetables regularly

Regular harvesting of seasonal fruits and vegetables encourages the plants to grow more produce, and prevents overripe produce from rotting on the plant. This practice also helps maintain plant health and reduces the risk of pests and diseases attracted to decaying matter.

Give away any excess produce to friends, family and neighbours, or pop them into your compost bin for a nutrient-rich fertiliser. 

11. Keep on top of lawn care

Maintain your lawn in the summer by mowing it regularly, but avoid cutting the grass too short, as this can stress the grass and make it more susceptible to drought in the heat, pest infestations and disease. 

Aim to cut no more than one-third of the grass height at a time. Leave grass clippings on the lawn to act as natural mulch, which will return any nutrients back into the soil.

12. Check for plant diseases

During the summer, plant disease can be more common. Regularly inspect the plants in your garden for signs of disease, such as discoloured leaves, spots, or unusual growth patterns. Early detection of disease allows for prompt treatment, which can prevent it from spreading to other plants. 

To remove diseased spots from plants, use appropriate methods, such as pruning affected areas, improving air circulation, and applying organic fungicides.

13. Compost as much as you can 

Composting is something you can do all year round, but also something you may have more time for in the summer months. 

Composting garden waste, such as leaves, grass clippings, and vegetable scraps, creates nutrient-rich compost that can be used to improve soil quality. Composting also reduces waste and helps make your home more sustainable.

14. Shade your plants

With the summer usually comes a lot of sunlight and heat. Provide temporary shade for your plants that are struggling in intense sunlight, especially during heatwaves. Use shade cloths, umbrellas, or strategically place taller plants less susceptible to sunlight, to protect more sensitive species. 

Providing shade also adds more privacy in your garden and provides additional garden security, allowing you to enjoy your summer out of the way of praying eyes.

15 summer garden safety tips 

Since your garden is somewhere where you may be spending a lot of time this summer, gardening and spending time with your family, it’s important to keep yourself safe outdoors. Follow our 15 summer garden safety tips for a safe and secure summer: 

1. Wear sunscreen

When out in the garden, ensure you apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Make sure to reapply every two hours, or more frequently if you are sweating heavily or playing around in water, to reduce the risk of sunburn and skin damage.

2. Make sure to stay hydrated

Gardening in the summer heat can lead to dehydration, especially if you’re spending a lot of time in the sun. Make sure to drink plenty of water before, during, and after your gardening sessions. Not only will this keep you hydrated, but it will also help prevent heatstroke. 

You should also avoid sugary or caffeinated drinks, as they can make your body dehydrate quicker.

3. Wear protective clothing

As you spend hot summer days in the garden, be sure to wear protective clothing – especially when gardening. 

This includes protecting yourself from sun exposure by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and long-sleeved shirts. These items will help shield your skin from UV rays, reducing the risk of sunburn, heatstroke, and long-term sun damage.

4. Use gloves when gardening

You should always ensure that you protect your hands when gardening. Gardening gloves protect you from thorns, sharp tools, and harmful chemicals that could cause significant damage to your hands. They also help give you a better grip on tools when gardening, and help prevent blisters. 

Make sure to choose gloves made from breathable materials to keep your hands cool and comfortable, and avoid fungal infections or friction blisters.

5. Practise safe tool handling

You should always ensure to use garden tools properly to avoid accidents. Keep them sharp and clean, to ensure they work efficiently and reduce the risk of injury. 

Make sure to store tools safely away when not in use – keeping them out of reach of children and pets.

6. Take breaks regularly 

Avoid overexertion in the garden by taking regular breaks, especially during the hottest part of the day. Take rest in the shade, drink plenty of water, and allow your body to cool down before starting again, as this will help you avoid heat exhaustion, heatstroke and dehydration.

7. Be aware of garden pests

When out in the garden, be mindful of stinging insects, such as bees, wasps, and mosquitoes – all of which are common in British gardens in the summer. Stay protected by using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding disturbing insect nests whilst gardening. 

Make sure that you are always prepared to treat stings or bites promptly by keeping a first aid box on hand. 

8. Lift heavy garden items properly

Whilst keeping up with your summer garden maintenance, ensure that you use proper lifting techniques to avoid straining your back when moving heavy pots, bags of soil, or other garden items. This includes bending your knees, keeping your back straight, and lifting with your legs. 

Ask for help if an item is too heavy to lift safely on your own, and never lift heavy objects without another person around – in case of an emergency. 

9. Check for allergies in your garden

Before planting any new additions into your garden, or bringing your family outside to enjoy the warm weather, be aware of any plant or insect allergies those in your garden may have.  Take appropriate precautions to prevent allergic reactions, such as removing any allergens from your garden and keeping medication on hand.

10. Use gardening chemicals safely

Using chemicals can often be unavoidable when gardening, such as pesticides, herbicides, or fertilisers. If you need to do so, ensure you follow instructions carefully, wear protective gear, such as gloves and masks, and apply chemicals during calm weather to avoid drift in the wind. 

Make sure that you always store chemicals securely, and out of reach of children and pets.

11. Wear sturdy footwear when out in the garden

Protect your feet when out in the garden, and especially when gardening, by wearing closed-toe shoes or boots to avoid injuries from sharp objects, tools, or uneven ground. 

Sturdy footwear also provides better ankle support and balance, therefore reducing the risk of accidental slipping or tripping.

12. Clear pathways to prevent accidents

Make sure to keep your garden paths clear of any debris, tools, and other obstacles to prevent tripping hazards. Regularly check and maintain pathways to ensure they are safe and easy to navigate – especially if you have small children, or have family members with poor balance.

13. Keep a first aid kit on hand

It is incredibly important to keep a first aid kit in your gardening area, so that you can treat minor injuries or accidents promptly. Stock it with essentials, such as bandages, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, and pain relief medication. 

Knowing basic first aid can also be helpful in case of emergencies, and prevent unnecessary trips to receive medical attention.

14. Mind the weather

As much as we love the summer time, it doesn’t always guarantee perfect weather. You should always avoid gardening during extreme heat or thunderstorms, which can put you at risk. Monitor the weather forecast regularly and plan your activities accordingly. 

Seek shelter during adverse weather conditions to keep yourself and your family safe and comfortable.

15. Keep child safety constantly on your mind

If you have young children at home, or visiting, it’s incredibly important that they are constantly supervised whilst out in the garden to ensure they stay safe, especially around sharp tools, chemicals, or potentially harmful plants. 

It’s also a good idea to teach young children about basic garden safety rules, and involve them in age-appropriate gardening tasks under close supervision.

Ready to get started on your summer garden? Check out our blog for more garden inspiration, such as how to make a small garden look bigger and garden decoration ideas