Chicago Home and Lifestyles – Early summer lawn and garden

The gardening season is here, and it finally feels like summer has come to the Chicago area! After a wet and cold spring, the weather has taken a 180 degree turn from the low 50s to the high 80s. Along with the heat the weather has been particularly dry. No significant rain came in last week and not much is in the forecast. So, besides a few drops from pop up storms, we haven’t seen enough moisture for our lawns and gardens. The lawn and garden need a minimum of 1 inch of water per week. Try an oscillating sprinkler and water from different directions until a container placed on the lawn measures 1 inch. Water early in the morning for the best results!

It’s a good time to add some soil to the lawn too. Every lawn needs to be supplemented with fresh topsoil every year. If you have compact clay-like soil, which is common around Chicago, add some sand. Spread it evenly over the lawn and work it in with the back of a lawn rake. Water thoroughly after. While it’s still not too hot, spread some lawn seed too. Wet the seeds daily until they germinate. 

Before you know it, your garden will be taking off. Weeds of course will take off too as the weather warms. Keep these under control. You can mulch, but not too close to the plants. As this is a prime growing time for vegetables and flowers, fertilizing regularly is important. Fertilize every two weeks with a plant food like Miracle Gro. I use the foliar method where you mix the plant food in water and pour over the plants wetting all the leaves as well as the ground. This has worked well for us over the years. Miracle Gro does have a new product that consists of granules that you spread around each plant and it waters in gradually. I haven’t tried this, but if you have had success with this product, let me know. It seems like it would save time and effort!

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago