Diary of a Gardener: Survive & Thrive: Smart Florida Gardening for Summer's Harshest Days Week 3
Summer Survival Guide: Preparing Your Florida Garden (and Yourself) for the Heat
Summer in Florida is not for the faint of heart — and neither is gardening through it. Between blazing sun, pop-up storms, and relentless humidity, both your landscape and your body need a little extra TLC to thrive.
Whether you're maintaining a pollinator-friendly garden or just want your plants (and yourself) to make it through the next few months without wilting, this guide is for you.
Mulch Like a Pro
Mulch is your garden's best defense against the summer sun. It conserves moisture, cools the soil, suppresses weeds, and improves soil health as it breaks down.
Tips for Effective Mulching:
Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around plants — not against the stems.
Choose natural options like pine bark, pine straw, eucalyptus, or melaleuca mulch.
Refresh mulch in late spring before the summer rains arrive.
In pollinator gardens, leave some bare spots of soil for ground-nesting bees.
Master Your Watering Schedule
Florida's rain patterns are unpredictable. Establishing smart watering habits can help plants develop strong, deep roots.
Best Practices:
Water early in the morning (before 9 AM) to reduce evaporation and fungal disease.
Deep, infrequent watering is better than daily light watering.
Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to target the root zone.
Consider rain barrels to capture free water from summer storms.
Feed Your Soil
Healthy soil = resilient plants.
Before summer stress hits:
Top-dress garden beds with organic compost.
Apply a slow-release organic fertilizer in late spring.
Add worm castings for a microbial boost.
Avoid heavy fertilizing during peak heat — focus on soil health and let the microbes do the work.
Protect Your Pollinators
Summer blooms feed bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects — but heat and storms can take a toll.
Support them by:
Planting continuous nectar sources like Sage, Native Porterweed, and Firebush.
Leaving shallow water sources (with stones for landing) for bees and butterflies.
Avoiding pesticides or using them sparingly and at dawn/dusk when pollinators aren't active.
Letting some herbs flower — bees love basil, mint, and oregano blooms!
Plant Low-Maintenance Survivors
Summer is not the time to be a plant parent to divas. Focus on tough, drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly plants that can handle Florida’s extremes.
Some of my summer-hardy favorites:
Native wildflowers (Coreopsis, Beach Sunflower, Blanketflower)
Coontie (native cycad)
Salvias (heat and pollinator magnets)
Beautyberry (wildlife food + beauty)
Firebush (butterfly + hummingbird favorite)
Clumping grasses like Muhly Grass or Fakahatchee Grass
Plant in layers for shade and protection, and group plants with similar water needs together.
Take Care of You, Too
Gardeners are just as vulnerable as their plants in Florida’s summer heat. Your health and well-being come first.
Self-Care Tips for Summer Gardening:
Work early mornings or late afternoons.
Wear breathable clothing, wide-brim hats, and sunscreen.
Stay hydrated — bring more water than you think you'll need (add electrolytes).
Take frequent shade breaks.
Keep a cool, damp towel or bandana around your neck.
Set realistic goals — small tasks over multiple days.
Reward yourself with iced tea, a shady seat, or a cool shower post-gardening.
Final Thoughts
Summer gardening in Florida is about working with nature, not against it. Prepare your landscape now, nurture your soil, protect your pollinators, and don’t forget to care for yourself along the way.
Gardens are built for seasons — some for thriving, some for surviving.
If you need help designing a low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly landscape that works with Florida’s climate (not against it), I’d love to help.
