Mid-Summer Garden Check-In: What Your Plants Need Now

Keep Your Garden Thriving Through the Heat — Checklist Inside!

By mid-summer, your garden has likely burst into full color — but July heat can sneak up on even the most seasoned gardeners. At 16 Acres Garden Center, we want to help you keep your plants looking vibrant, your blooms going strong, and your time in the garden enjoyable.

Here’s a simple Mid-Summer Garden Checklist to help you stay on top of summer’s demands — including a few special tips for one of our favorite seasonal stars: Hydrangeas.

✅ Mid-Summer Garden Checklist

1. Water Wisely
Deep, infrequent watering encourages strong roots. Most garden plants need about 1″ of water per week, but in the heat of summer, containers and new plantings may need daily attention.
➡ Tip: Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent mildew.

2. Feed Your Bloomers
Many flowering plants, like annuals and roses, benefit from a mid-season fertilizer boost. Use a balanced bloom-boosting formula.
➡ Hydrangea Tip: Feed hydrangeas with Espoma’s Holly-tone or Hydrangea-tone to support strong blooms and foliage.

3. Prune with Purpose
Deadheading spent flowers encourages reblooming. Shear back leggy annuals and remove yellowing leaves to tidy up beds.
➡ Hydrangea Note: Be cautious with pruning — don’t cut back bigleaf or oakleaf hydrangeas now; they’ve already set next year’s buds!

4. Mulch Matters
Replenish mulch around trees, shrubs, and perennials to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Keep it a few inches from stems to avoid rot.

5. Pest Patrol
Japanese beetles, aphids, and powdery mildew can all show up mid-summer. Inspect your plants regularly and treat early.
➡ Come see us for eco-friendly solutions that are safe for pollinators and pets.

6. Support & Stake
Tall perennials like coneflowers, bee balm, and daisies can flop after a summer storm. Add support to help them stand tall.

7. Enjoy the Show
Hydrangeas are stealing the spotlight right now! Whether you planted Endless Summer, Limelight, or Annabelle, they’re in their glory. Snap a photo, cut a few stems for the vase, and soak it in — this is what summer is all about.

Stop in for a Garden Refresh

If something in your garden isn’t thriving, we can help. Bring photos or samples to our staff at 16 Acres Garden Center, and we’ll guide you to the right fertilizer, plant replacement, or solution.

Plus, check your app for exclusive summer tips, sales, and loyalty rewards — all season long!

📲 Download the 16 Acres Garden Center App

Let’s keep your garden growing strong through summer’s peak!