Why Summer Is the Perfect Time to Refresh Your Landscape

As the sun shines longer and your outdoor spaces get more use, summer presents the ideal opportunity to breathe new life into your yard. Whether you’re grilling out, hosting friends, or simply enjoying an evening on the patio, your landscape plays a big part in how your home feels. This season, take advantage of the warm weather and longer days to tackle outdoor upgrades and create a space you’re proud to show off.

From trimming overgrowth to planting hardy perennials and laying fresh mulch, here’s what you should be thinking about to keep your landscape thriving this summer.

Keep Plants Happy With Mid-Summer Trimming

Summer growth can quickly get out of hand. Trimming back overgrown shrubs, trees, and plants not only keeps things tidy but also promotes healthier growth. Pruning encourages air circulation, removes dead material, and allows sunlight to reach the lower parts of the plant.

Be strategic: trim spring bloomers after their flowering cycle ends and focus on light shaping for summer-blooming shrubs. If something looks straggly or heavy, a mid-season trim is probably in order. Just be mindful not to prune too harshly during extreme heat.

Mulch Matters—And Now’s a Great Time to Refresh It

Mulch isn’t just for spring. Applying a fresh layer of mulch in the summer helps retain soil moisture, suppresses weeds, and regulates root temperature—critical during dry, hot months. As older mulch breaks down, it also enriches the soil beneath it.

When you’re laying mulch in Dayton, summer is a great time to reassess which beds could use a touch-up. A 2–3 inch layer of organic mulch around trees and shrubs is generally recommended. Just avoid piling it too high around trunks—this can encourage rot and pests.

Planting in Summer? Choose Wisely.

While spring and fall are often considered the best planting seasons, summer planting can still be successful—if you choose the right plants. Drought-tolerant perennials, ornamental grasses, and native plants are better equipped to establish themselves in the heat.

Focus on plants like:

Coneflower (Echinacea)
Black-eyed Susan
Sedum
Coreopsis
Lavender

Water them well and consistently for the first few weeks, and mulch to protect their roots. With some attention, these additions can thrive and even bloom through the end of the season.

Don’t Forget About Your Lawn

Your lawn goes through a lot in the summer—foot traffic, sun exposure, heat stress. Give it the attention it deserves by mowing high, watering deeply but less frequently, and spot-treating for weeds.

Mowing too short during hot months can cause stress and increase your lawn’s need for water. Set your mower to a higher setting (around 3–4 inches), and aim for early morning or evening watering sessions to minimize evaporation.

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Add Visual Interest with Hardscaping Touches

Summer is also a great time to think beyond plants. Hardscaping elements, such as stone borders, edging, stepping stones, and gravel paths, help organize the landscape while making it easier to maintain.

Looking to reduce mowing or keep garden beds cleaner? Defined edges and pathways not only look polished but also improve usability—especially for high-traffic areas or sloped yards that are hard to manage with plants alone.

A local Landscape service company can help you decide where hardscaping makes the most sense and blend it seamlessly into your existing layout.

Enjoy the Outdoors—Comfortably

Don’t forget the fun part: using your yard! Whether it’s a shaded seating area, an outdoor kitchen, or a fire pit for cool evenings, these features can extend the life of your yard well beyond summer. Landscape lighting also makes a significant difference, allowing you to enjoy your space well into the night.

Comfort is key. Consider adding a pergola, umbrellas, or tall grasses to create natural privacy and shade. Your outdoor space should feel like an extension of your home—not an afterthought.

Final Thoughts

Summer landscaping isn’t just about appearances—it’s about setting up your outdoor space to be enjoyable, efficient, and sustainable through the hottest months and beyond. Whether it’s laying mulch, planting perennials, or sprucing up your lawn, these minor upgrades make a significant impact.

Now’s the time to dig in (literally) and make the most of the season. Your backyard oasis is closer than you think.