Weeds are at their most aggressive during the warmer months, as they compete for every drop of available water in the soil. Left unchecked, they can hog valuable nutrients you have applied during your spring feed.
You should avoid deep digging when clearing these interlopers in the heat to prevent moisture from evaporating out of the lower layers. Instead, regular use of garden weeding tools allows you to manage the problem without drying out your beds.

• A classic garden hoe is your best ally for keeping your borders and vegetable patches clear and tidy.
• You can use a draw hoe for deeper-rooted weeds or to move soil around the base of plants to provide extra support.
• For a lighter and faster touch, a stirrup hoe is an excellent choice. Cutting through weed roots on both the push and pull stroke, it leaves the soil surface mostly undisturbed.
• A hand weeder is a more precise choice for tighter spaces or raised beds. It allows you to lift out stubborn weeds without damaging the delicate roots of nearby flowers.

The 18V ONE+™ Cordless Garden Hoe will scythe through weeds and cultivate your growing area all at the simple press of a trigger, saving you time and a lot of effort. You can prevent weeds from establishing deep roots by spending just a few minutes each morning. This simple habit ensures your plants don't have to share their water during a summer dry spell.

If you only do one thing for your soil this summer, it should be mulching.
A thick layer of organic matter acts like a thermal blanket to keep the ground cool and prevent the sun from baking the surface. It is the most effective way to protect your plants from drought stress. You should check your mulch levels regularly because birds often toss it around, and organic materials break down over time.
Moving heavy bags of mulch and compost is much easier with a sturdy wheelbarrow for garden tasks. A compost spreader can help you achieve a uniform, thin layer across the surface without smothering small seedlings. You can also use a garden rake to level out the material and ensure it is distributed evenly around the base of your plants.

Common summer mulch materials include:

• Garden compost: Adds vital nutrients while protecting the surface.
• Bark chips: Excellent for borders as they decompose slowly.
• Shredded garden waste: Use the RYOBI 36V MAX POWER Cordless Brushless Shredder to turn pruned branches into free, nutrient-rich mulch.

Plants expend a massive amount of energy producing fruit and flowers during the summer. This can exhaust the nutrients in the soil, especially for crops like tomatoes. A mid-season top dressing of compost provides the extra stamina they need to finish the season strong.
Having a reliable set of tools makes these feeding tasks much more efficient:

• Garden shovel and garden trowel: These are your go-to tools for placing compost accurately around individual plants without disturbing their growth.
• Hand shovel: Choose a hand shovel with a pointed blade for breaking through hard-baked summer ground when you need to add compost to established borders.
• Hand cultivator: Use a hand cultivator to loosen the soil at the bottom of the planting hole if you are adding new bedding plants to fill gaps in your borders.
• Cordless sprayer: Apply liquid organic feeds evenly for faster results over larger areas. The RYOBI 18V ONE+™ Cordless Backpack Sprayer ensures your plants receive a consistent dose of nutrients without the physical effort of manual pumping.

The soil is a living ecosystem home to microorganisms that keep your garden fertile. These creatures are sensitive to extreme heat and heavy soil disturbance. You should avoid heavy digging with a garden shovel during the peak of summer because it can force earthworms to retreat deeper into the ground.
Stick to light-touch cultivation with your cultivator to keep the surface breathable without disrupting the life below. You should also watch for signs of chafer grubs or leatherjackets while you do your light hoeing. These pests eat plan roots and make them more vulnerable to heat stress. RYOBI offer chemical sprayers ideal for use with pesticides and insecticides.
Catching these problems early during your weekly walk-throughs allows you to treat the soil before the damage becomes terminal, ensuring your garden remains resilient and healthy for the rest of the year.