Temperatures are rising in the South, which is known for its scorching-hot summers. If you want to maintain a lovely and appealing yard all through the hot months, you have to change up your gardening tactics to account for the increasing temperatures. Especially if you’re putting your home on the market, it’s crucial you ensure a lovely, healthy yard all summer long.

Luckily, it’s not that difficult. From mowing the right way to fertilizing and watering to getting those brush piles out of there (finally!), summer-proofing your yard doesn’t take a ton of extra work. Here are four simple steps to add to your to do list today.

1. Mow Your Lawn Slowly

You, like most people, probably ignored your lawn all winter – and that’s fine. However, now that summer is here, it’s time to take care of that grass. You have to do it safely, though. Mowing your grass down to a half inch when it’s 2 inches tall will cause ripping and tearing, which in turn will create patchiness. Instead, mow your lawn at one-week intervals, taking it down only a half inch every time.

2. Fertilize Now

During hot summer months such as June, July and August, it can be dangerous to apply fertilizer. Fertilizer itself has a tendency to burn, so in addition to the sun’s scorching rays, you can do significant damage to lawns and other plants. Instead, take a soil test right now to find out what you need, then add the missing ingredients on a cool day.

3. Remove Debris

Brush piles, random compost heaps, and other debris collection may not seem like such a big deal, but they can cause significant problems if you don’t take care of them before summer. Lots of pests hatch out this time of year, and brush piles provide the perfect cover for them. Plus, these can also grow mold during hot wet months, which can lead to unhealthy conditions.

4. Water Smart All Summer

Many people neglect watering requirements, then go out and drench their yards when it gets really hot. This is the wrong approach. Instead, give your trees and shrubs a deep and thorough drenching to depths of about a foot whenever soil dries out. Here’s a handy guide to watering trees in hot climates.

Still don’t feel like you have your yard under control? Here are four more steps you can take, courtesy of the fine folks here at Premier Tree Solutions. We also offer limb removal, stump removal, brush clearing, storm cleanup, and more. Just give us a call at (404) 252-6448 or contact us hereand let us know what you need today.

Emergency? Call (404) 569-8897 for immediate assistance. We’re here for you!

Get to know Georgia’s beautiful array of trees and how you can take care of your own! Each month, we feature some of the most popular trees in the state. For April, we are showcasing the Honey Locust. Learn all about Honey Locust trees below!

Want to keep the god of thunder and lightning from giving you trouble this season? Summer is the time of storms, and that’s not so good for your beloved birches, beeches, and buckeyes (and, you know, other species). Here are the dangers you face from good ol’ Thor, and what to do about them.

Avoid Falling Limbs: Trim Trees Regularly

One of the most common problems in stormy weather is dropped limbs. While you can’t always avoid this, especially with hurricane- or tornado-force winds, you can make it much less likely with dedicated and timely pruning.

Look for dead or dying limbs and get those out. Prune off branches that have weak crotches (limbs that form a wider angle than around 45 degrees or so). Remove extra branches to conform to the tree’s natural shape and offer more light and resources to remaining limbs.

Avoid Injuries Due to Stress: Water Well

Trees whose systems are already stressed are more likely to suffer damage in high winds. Their root systems may be shallower or less extensive, resulting in a greater readiness to tip or rip out of the ground completely. They may also be drier and crack or break more easily. Avoid brittle trees and weak roots with conscientious watering all summer.

Avoid Flooding: Maintain Yard Drainage

There’s no easier way to kill a tree than by drowning it. Subjecting roots to submersion for days or weeks after a storm can substantially reduce tree health, even if they live. Avoid this by funneling stormwater away from trees, perhaps with a bioswale or rain garden.

Avoid Lightning Strikes: Install Lightning Protection

We’ll just say this upfront: Lightning protection systems are expensive. However, if you have a heritage tree or a sentimental specimen on your property, it may be worth the investment. These systems don’t draw strikes; they reduce the charges between ground and sky to reduce the chances of strikes at all.

No matter what you need to protect your trusty trees, we’re here to help. Premier Tree Solutions serves Atlanta with the quality, dedicated tree care you need. Whether you want to protect trees before a storm or clean up after one, we’re the people to help. Get in touch and contact us here if you have any questions!

Ever have that feeling like a chore will own you for the rest of time? Like you’ve put it off for so long that the monkey on your back is probably permanently attached? No, we’re not talking about going to the dentist. (Although, definitely go to the dentist.) We’re talking about your yard. If it’s out of control and you don’t know what to do, here are four steps to take immediately.

1. Clear Some Space 

Before you do anything else, you need to create a little visual space in your yard by decluttering the landscape. Until you do that, it’s hard to even to see what you’re dealing with. Steps include:

• Call a donation service to get rid of cars, appliances, or other outmoded technology
• Pick up and donate or toss old pots, toys, disused plastic chairs, etc.
• Clear away brush and undergrowth

Once you take these simple steps, you might be amazed how much more clearly you can think.

2. Trim Grass

Again, this relatively simple (if not easy) step will do wonders for your visual serenity. Get the mower running and trim the grass. Don’t trim it all the way down to nothing, though, because that can damage it. Instead, make several passes over a few-week span, going shorter each time. This gives the grass time to regroup and adjust.

3. Pull Weeds

Getting weeds out of the picture is the next step. At first, the mere appearance of bare soil will be delightful. Next, you’ll realize … hey! I can plant things there!

4. Call in the Pros for Tree Care

Now that you’ve cleaned up the property pretty well, it’s time to take care of your branching beauties. Trees with dead, withered, or rotting boughs can pose a serious danger to people and possessions – as well as the tree itself. Even if you don’t have dangerous deadwood, pruning is still critical. Chances are good, if you haven’t deal with the yard for a while, your trees will need a full inspection.
That’s where Premier Tree Solutions comes in. We will give your yard a thorough once over, recommending the right moves for all trees and shrubs. We can also offer help with clearing away brush and debris, removing and grinding stumps, and more. If you’re ready to take back ownership of your garden, call today or contact us here.