North Carolina Home

Summer is the most difficult time of the year on plants. Our gardens take the brunt of the harsh sunlight and temperatures. To keep your garden looking healthy and beautiful all season long, here are summer garden maintenance tips our real estate agents recommend.

1. Water Properly
   Watering is undoubtedly the most important aspect of summer garden maintenance, but how you go about it makes a big difference. There are many pathogens in the air and soil that need water to reproduce, grow, and move. So, be sure to apply water directly to the ground using drip irrigation or soaker hoses to limit moisture on a plant's foliage. Water sitting on the leaves can lead to mold formation and disease infestation.
   
   When giving your plants a drink, you want to make sure that the water goes down to the deep roots. 
   
   
2. Pull Out Weeds
   Many weeds love summer heat and grow incredibly fast when it's warm. If you neglect your garden and allow weeds to thrive, they will steal moisture and nutrients from your plants. They can also encourage diseases and insect pests to pop up in your garden. 
   
   
3. Prune Your Plants
   Whether they died of insect damage, disease, or natural causes, dead plants have to go. Not only are they unsightly, but they can also attract damaging insects. Trimming and cleaning off dead leaves, flowers, and branches are key to keeping your plants healthy, thicker, and fuller for as long as possible. Since plants may require pruning at different times, do your research before snipping anything. Pruning with a good pair of garden shears will give you a clean cut and keep your plants healthier. You may also want to enrich your soil with compost if you notice yellowing leaves or general plant failure.
   
   
4. Watch for Insect Damage
   Insects build nests in and around gardens and landscaping so that they can have a ready food supply. Damage caused by insects and diseases is much more than cosmetic. Bacteria and viruses can only enter a plant through an opening, and insect damage provides that. And if you're growing fruits and vegetables, bugs can ruin your harvest. So, be vigilant and take proactive measures to get rid of bugs.
   
   
5. Continue to Mulch
   Providing a 2-inch-deep layer of organic mulch will help control weeds, insulate the soil from the heat, and retain moisture. It's important to continue mulching on garden and landscaping planting through summer. There are many different types of mulch you can choose from depending on the needs of the plants. And to prevent the mulch from doing more harm than good, it's a good idea to leave a gap of several inches between the stems and make sure the layer can allow water to penetrate through it.
   
   
6. Raise Your Mower
   Mowing is necessary in almost every season, but it's especially more important in the summer. Grass tends to grow quickly in warm weather, so some lawns will require more frequent mowing to keep them kempt. When mowing, don't cut your grass too short. Taller grass helps prevent the soil from drying out and promotes quicker root growth. As a good rule of thumb, leave your lawn standing at about five centimeters.

If your home will soon be listed among Raleigh homes for sale, beautiful landscaping and gardening features can make your home more appealing to buyers. Contact us today for your homeownership needs.

National Arbor Day is April 26th and our REALTORS® want to say thank you to all of the communities throughout North Carolina that embrace this annual holiday. Founded in 1872 in Nebraska City, Arbor Day celebrates the commitment our communities have to a maintaining healthy urban environment.

Did you know that over 40 percent of North Carolina homeowners live in a Tree City USA community? With over 80 Tree City USA communities across the state, our families, friends, and neighbors have planted nearly 26,000 new trees over four decades. Is your North Carolina hometown is a Tree City? Here are a few of our favorites.

10 North Carolina Tree City USA Communities

1. Raleigh - With nearly 200 miles of greenways and trails weaving throughout Raleigh homes for sale, Raleigh is a great destination for those who want to walk under the shade of a Tree City community.
2. Durham - Duke University West Campus, located near Durham homes for sale, is conveniently located close to the Duke Forest Teaching & Research Laboratory. Thousands of acres stretched across Durham, Orange and Alamance Counties acts as a research and recreation area for the school and general public.
3. Cary - The residents of Cary volunteer throughout the year to keep the town clean and forever green. Their Spruce Program focuses on cleaning up litter around town, planting trees around neighborhoods with Cary homes for sale, and giving out compost to residents.
4. Chapel Hill - Chapel Hill has always placed a priority on the protection of their trees. In fact, cutting a tree down was punishable by a fine in the late 1800s. Today, that still keep a strong focus on their community tree ordinance and maintain a balance of residential trees around Chapel Hill homes for sale.
5. Wake Forest - As one of the longest-running active Tree City USA communities in the state, the residents of Wake Forest have dedicated their efforts to protect the trees around Wake Forest homes for sale and throughout the community for over 40 years.
6. Apex - Though Apex is a new Tree City, they've taken this title very seriously. Immediately, they created a Tree Citizen Advisory Panel that represents the town's voices in all tree-related matters. They've also planted a new oak tree to commemorate the panel on Lake Pine, just a few blocks from Apex homes for sale.
7. Clayton - If you're looking at Clayton homes for sale, know that this town has been planting for the future. The community has planted dozens of trees around spaces like schools and parks to provide shade and fresh air for future generations.
8. Knightdale - As one of the fastest growing towns in the state, you'll have no trouble finding Knightdale homes for sale. They're proud of each Tree City recertification they've received over the last 20 years and plan to grow their status as a Tree City for decades to come.
9. Rolesville - Rolesville is another new Tree City but the town has worked hard for years to maintain the green areas that residents love. Main Street Park and Mill Bridge Nature Park are just two of the great treelined areas where you can enjoy the outdoors around Rolesville homes for sale.
10. Hillsborough - Hillsborough is not only a Tree City but also a Bee City. These locals cherish and protect their landscapes and wildlife to ensure that these natural spaces can responsibly coexist with their new Hillsborough homes for sale.

An old Chinese proverb states: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." Join our REALTORS® this Arbor Day and plant a tree in one of our beautiful North Carolina communities. For more information about Tree City USA communities in your area, Arbor Day events around town, or to buy and sell gorgeous North Carolina homes, contact us today.