🌞 Things to Do in Your Garden This Summer (NZ Summer Garden Checklist)

Summer is in full swing here in Aotearoa — long days, warm nights, and rapid growth everywhere! Late December is the perfect time to nurture your plants, boost lawn health, and keep your garden vibrant right through until autumn.

Whether you’re growing veges, tending flower beds, or caring for your lawn, here’s what you should be doing this summer — with tips and product picks from Green Fingers NZ to help you succeed. Green Fingers NZ

🌿 1. Feed for Vigour and Health

Plants and lawns are growing quickly in summer — meaning they need regular nutrients.

• General garden beds: Apply a balanced fertiliser to boost growth and encourage strong blooms and harvests.Perfect for vegetables, shrubs, flowers and fruit trees.👉 Try General Garden Fertiliser for essential nutrients across your garden. Green Fingers NZ

• Lawn care: A slow-release lawn fertiliser keeps grass green and strong in hot weather.👉 Lawn Plus Granular Fertiliser releases nutrients over months and helps raise lawn resilience. Green Fingers NZ

• All-around plant nutrition: A foliar feed can quickly top up micronutrients and improve overall plant performance.👉 General Garden Foliar Fertiliser is great for giving gardens a growth boost. Green Fingers NZ

💡 Tip: Feed lightly but more often in summer — this gives plants what they need without overloading soil.

💦 2. Water Wisely

Watering in summer isn’t just about how much — it’s when and how you water.

• Water in the cooler parts of the day (early morning or late evening) to reduce water loss.

• Deep watering helps roots access moisture and builds drought resilience.

• Mulching around plants and garden rows helps retain water and suppress weeds.

🧹 3. Weed Early and Often

Weeds love summer warmth — and once they take hold, they compete fiercely with your plants for water and nutrients.

• Hand-pull small weeds before they set seed.

• Maintain a healthy, dense lawn to naturally suppress weeds.

• Weed control products are best applied when young weeds are actively growing.

🍅 4. Pest Watch

Warm weather brings insects — aphids, caterpillars, and other pests — so keep an eye out.

• Inspect plants regularly, especially new growth.

• Treat infestation early to prevent serious damage.

• Natural insecticides work better when pests are small.

✂️ 5. Mow Smart + Light Pruning

• Set your mower blade a little higher during heatwaves to shade soil and reduce stress on grass.

• Remove no more than one-third of the blade height at a time.

• Lightly deadhead or prune flowering plants to encourage new blooms.

🌻 6. Repair and Re-seed Stress Spots

Lawn or garden areas that get heavy use in summer (foot traffic, BBQ zones, paths) might show wear.

• Resow bare patches quickly so heat stress doesn’t make issues worse.

• A healthy soil base + regular feeding helps repair worn areas quickly.

🌱 7. Boost Soil Health With Humic & Fulvic Acids

Products containing humic and fulvic acids can help unlock nutrients in the soil, improve water retention, and build plant resilience.

👉 Humic & Fulvic Acid 500ml gives your soil that subtle boost your garden will thank you for. Green Fingers NZ

🍅 8. Support Special Plant Needs

Some plants like tomatoes, pumpkins, roses, and flowers have specific nutritional needs — and tailored fertilisers help them thrive:

• Tomato Liquid Fertiliser for rich fruit development. Green Fingers NZ

• Rose & Flower Liquid Fertiliser to push extra blooms. Green Fingers NZ

• Bulb Granular Fertiliser for strong bulb and root development. Green Fingers NZ

🌼 Make Summer Work for Your Garden

Summer can be a rewarding season in NZ gardens — fresh veg, colourful blooms, and lush lawns — but it takes consistent care to get the best results.

With regular feeding, smart watering, pest vigilance, and a little extra attention, you’ll keep your garden thriving all season long.

👉 Explore the full range of Green Fingers products and find the right fertilisers and garden care solutions for your garden’s summer success. Green Fingers NZ

Happy gardening from Green Fingers NZ! 🌿