How to Plant in Summer?
Precautions to take
Contents
The best time for planting is autumn and early spring, as the soil is warm and benefits from good moisture levels. However, there are many situations where planting perennials and shrubs in summer is unavoidable. This is the case when you want to landscape the garden of a holiday home, when you don’t have time to garden outside of the summer holidays, or when you fall in love with a plant in the middle of July, when the sun is strong and rain is scarce.
During this period, plants are still sold in containers, making them “ready” to be planted in your garden. Bare-root plants, such as roses for example, are only available between November and March, the only time when you can plant them.
So, how can you successfully plant in the middle of summer? What precautions should you take to ensure good establishment and results? Follow my advice!
How to Prepare the Soil Before Planting?
All year round, it is advisable to prepare well for planting. This is even more true during the summer season. Here are some tips:
- For any perennial or shrub planting, dig a hole 2 to 3 times larger than the purchased root ball using a spade or a shovel. A large planting hole significantly increases the chances of successful establishment. The deeper you dig, the more water can penetrate the lower layers of the soil. The width of the hole, on the other hand, limits competition from other plants.
- Water generously and several times to moisten the lower layers!
- Whatever plant you are installing, make sure to respect its future needs (soil type, drainage, exposure) and prepare your substrate and planting accordingly.
- The choice of substrate depends on the needs of each plant (soil that is more or less moist or well-draining, for example). For plants that prefer moist soil, amend with an organic-rich material such as compost, and don’t hesitate to add a water retainer (stockosorb) to your mix.
How to Plant in Summer?
If possible, avoid working during the hottest hours of the day; opt for early morning or early evening instead. This will also be more comfortable for you!
Before planting, start by soaking the pot or container in a large volume of water—about 10 minutes for a small pot and up to 1 hour for larger containers.
Submerge the root ball in water to hydrate it thoroughly
- Once the root ball is sufficiently rehydrated, carefully remove the plant from its pot and place it in the hole.
- Fill in with the remaining soil and gently firm it around the base of the plant.
- Create a watering basin around the plant to concentrate water close to the roots.
- Water generously once more.
- Add mulch immediately to reduce water evaporation, keep the soil loose, and limit the growth of competing weeds. A thickness of 5 cm is the minimum! Use whatever you have on hand (old cardboard, dried grass clippings, leaves…) or purchase a jute or felt disc. Ensure the plant’s crown (the junction between the underground and above-ground parts) remains exposed.
Plant and don’t forget to mulch afterwards!
How to Care for Plants Installed in Summer?
In the weeks following planting, and until autumn, ensure the soil remains moist, but not waterlogged. Surface roots tend to dry out quickly. To prevent this and encourage the development of a deep and resilient root system, it is better to water thoroughly once a week rather than a little every day. Deep watering allows water to penetrate the lower layers of the soil, where roots can establish themselves firmly. To reduce water loss through evaporation, water early in the morning or late in the evening, when temperatures are cooler.
In case of prolonged absence, several options are available:
- ask your neighbour if they can water your new planting for you.
- install watering cones. Typically made of terracotta, they are connected to a water bottle or bucket and prevent the soil from drying out too much.
- use an automatic watering system. Equipped with a timer, it allows you to schedule water delivery.
To protect the foliage from the sun’s intensity and reduce evaporation, you can set up a temporary shade cloth, stretched between four stakes, provided the size of the plant allows it. Once established under good conditions, your plant will no longer need it.
Warning! In recent years, summer rainfall has sometimes been very scarce. Every year, regulations prohibit watering gardens during droughts in certain regions. Create your own water reserve by installing one or more water butts connected to your gutters.
Drip irrigation
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