Moon Valley Tennessee Blog

August Landscape & Garden Tips for Tennessee in 2023

Written by Moon Valley Nurseries | Jul 31, 2023 9:34:54 PM

Time is flying by this year and the summer season is already coming to an end. Now that people are coming home from vacation, kids are going back to school, and everybody is falling back into their regular routine, it’s time to check on your yard!

Follow the tips and advice below from our nursery pros and make sure your yard is looking great and ready for the fall growing season! 

  1. Watering Tips
  2. Nutrients & Fertilizer
  3. Mulching Tips
  4. Protect Your Trees From Summer Weather
  5. Best Varieties To Plant Right Now

1. WATERING  

The extra rain over the last few weeks has helped our landscapes through some warm temperatures but can also change how we approach watering our yard this month.  

 

During periods of heavy rainfall, monitor your landscape for potential instances of overwatering of any plant material. You may need to skip watering sessions during and after heavy rains.  

 

Continue to water in the morning sometime between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. as this reduces possible evaporation loss. Always incorporate deep watering methods, using a slow application of water to your trees and plants over a longer period of time. This allows the entire root zone to become saturated.  

 

The amount of water you apply depends on the tree or shrub you are watering. With trees, you will want to wet the soil at least 3 feet deep and with shrubs at least 1 foot deep. Use a soil probe to determine the depth of watering.  

 

For more watering information and instructions for new and mature trees, or answers to common watering questions such as, “how often to water?” or how much should I water?”, click here for our watering guides!  

 

 

2. NUTRIENTS 

Between the warmer days and rain storms, your lawn and landscape could use some extra pampering and attention. This is the perfect time to spruce up your trees and plants with our Super Charged Moon Juice

 

Super Charged Moon Juice is a custom blend that contains a one-of-a-kind liquid technology. Moon Juice works great for all trees and plants in your landscape by boosting growth from the root system and helping plant material recover quickly from seasonal stress. 

 

If your landscape consists mostly of palms, our Super Palm Juice was made specifically for the needs of palm tree varieties in our local region. It contains the same custom liquid technology as our Moon Juice, but Palm Juice also contains a full nutrient profile perfect for all palms and other tropical varieties. This fast-acting liquid gets nutrients to the palms quickly for immediate optimization. 

 

 

3. MULCHING TIPS

Adding mulch to your trees and plants is perhaps the easiest thing you can do right now to give them a little help through the heat. If done right, a layer of mulch can even add to the curb appeal of your yard.

 

Adding a few inches of mulch can help with water retention and keep your soil cool during the warmer summer months and warm during the cooler days. Mulch is available at any Moon Valley Nurseries location. 

 

 

4. PROTECT YOUR TREES FROM SUMMER WEATHER

Trees, just like us, can also get sunburn. Young trees, especially citrus and fruit trees, need protection from the sun when temperatures increase.

 

You can protect the trunk of new trees and young trees from sunburn with Protective Tree Wrap, available at any Moon Valley Nurseries location.

 

To further protect your tree, young or old, you can double stake them. This provides stability when high winds or monsoons come in. Moon Valley Nursery also offers staking services as well. Click here to map a location near you

 

 

 

5. BEST VARIETIES OF TREES TO PLANT RIGHT NOW

 

CRAPE MYRTLE 

For a beautiful flowering tree that provides year-round color and augments any landscape, the Crape Myrtle can’t be beaten! These incredibly colorful trees are available in red, white, pink, lavender, and purple flowering varieties.

 

They bloom from early spring into the late summer and have a fiery myriad of fall colors! These trees love to be planted in full sun exposure and are drought tolerant once established. If your yard is begging for a massive pop of color, several Crape Myrtle trees will accomplish the job perfectly! 

 

 

 

MAGNOLIA

Nothing signifies spring and summer like the sweet aroma from the Southern Magnolia tree. These trees are extremely cold and heat-hardy, giving a beautiful shaded canopy as they grow, and just like other Magnolias, they are showcased by their beautiful creamy white blooms. 

 

Growing more upright than wide makes the Southern Magnolia one that can be planted nearly everywhere with ease. This is a moderate-sized tree that works in many landscape applications and once established likes to dry out between deep waterings, making this a perfect tree for use in water-wise landscapes as well. 

 

 

 

CAROLINA CHERRY

The Carolina Cherry, is a native to North Carolina and Texas,  and it is easy to see why this ornamental tree is so popular with homeowners. It loves the heat and thrives in full sun environments! 

Drought and heat tolerant, this Carolina Cherry tree will need occasional watering once established. It is a smaller evergreen featuring bright, dark green foliage that looks beautiful on a variety of landscapes. Some people claim that the foliage has a scent reminiscent of maraschino cherries.