Maintenance & Long-Term Care
Protecting your investment means extending your care beyond the plants themselves; your tools and soil require equal attention. At the end of each gardening session, wipe the dirt from your trowels and pruners. Once a month, coat the steel blades with a light layer of household lubricating oil to prevent rust, and rub boiled linseed oil into wooden tool handles to keep them from splintering in the dry summer air.
Monitor your soil health as the season progresses. Heavy summer downpours and constant irrigation often wash away the protective mulch layer. Check your beds in late August and top-dress any bare spots with a fresh inch of wood chips. This continuous replenishment slowly feeds the soil microbiome as the wood decomposes, building a richer, darker loam for next year.
As summer transitions into early fall, begin tapering off your watering schedule. Over-watering late in the season signals your plants to keep growing when they should be preparing for winter dormancy. By slowly reducing irrigation, you harden off the stems and roots, ensuring your landscape survives the upcoming freezing temperatures.
