To mulch or not to mulch? That is the question! For those who love to garden, it’s time to roll up those sleeves and get your hands dirty with some good, old-fashioned summer gardening tips.

Spoil your soil. Nothing will hinder plant growth more than poor soil—in order for your veggies to flourish, you need to focus on providing them with the most nutrient-dense soil possible. Take care not to compact the soil too much, and add in a nutrient-rich soil amendments like compost. The SMSC Organics Recycling Facility offers some excellent options for compost and compost blends!

Mulch, mulch, mulch. Mulch helps blanket the soil in your garden, shielding plants from too much sun and preventing moisture loss from evaporation. We recommend spreading a 2-inch-deep layer of mulch near your plants or veggies. Here at the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility, we have several different colors of mulch to choose from! (Are you sensing a trend yet?)

Control the weeds. The summer heat doesn’t discriminate when it comes to enabling plant growth, and many types of weeds can go from tiny to gigantic in a short period of time. Weeds steal vital nutrients and moisture from your plants and vegetables, so it is important to pull the weeds from your garden as soon as possible.

Keep an eye out for pesky pests. Midsummer is around the time when many Minnesota gardeners notice damage to their foliage caused by garden pests. Common garden pests and plant bugs in this state include Japanese beetles, cabbageworms, and squash bugs. Try row covers, an organic pesticide, or an insecticidal soap to nix the pest problem.

Don’t forget to water. During dry spells this summer, feed your garden plants about an inch of water each week. When watering, it’s important to remember to pour as closely to the ground as possible instead of to the plant’s foliage, as this can lead to disease.