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Seasonal Guide
Summer
Gardening Companion
Discover what to do in your garden every month with expert guidance and the right RYOBI® tools and tips for every season.
Summer lawn care
What to do in the Summer
Summer tree shrub and hedge care
What to do in Summer
Summer soil care
Summer Plant Care
Summer is when your garden really comes into its own. Trees are in full leaf, hedges are putting on strong growth, and shrubs are flowering or setting the framework for blooms later in the year. On the flip side, it's also a season when plants can become stressed by heat, drought, pests or well-intentioned but poorly timed pruning. Summer care doesn't need to be complicated. A few simple, regular actions will keep your trees, shrubs and hedges looking good and growing well – without risking long-term damage. This guide walks through the key tasks that matter most in summer, explaining what to do, why it works, and how to do it confidently, even if you're not an expert gardener.
A well-timed summer trim keeps hedges looking intentional rather than woolly. It also encourages thicker, denser growth by stimulating side-shooting close to the cut. By summer, focus on light-maintenance trimming to preserve shape. Our cordless hedge trimmers make this job quicker and safer than corded options, provided you keep blades sharp and work methodically. Use our hedge trimmers from the bottom upward so cut foliage falls away and the lower stems still receive light. Aim for a subtle A-shape – wider at the base, slightly narrower at the top – so the lower growth doesn't thin out. Always work with eye protection, thick gloves and sturdy footwear.
Summer is a good time for tidy-up pruning. Use a Telescopic Pole Saw to focus on removing dead or diseased wood and any crossing shoots. Reserve heavy reduction and reshaping for the dormant season (November to February/March), when large wounds attract fewer pathogens and plants aren't relying on a full canopy to fuel growth. Heavy cutting in hot, dry weather can stress plants and set them back, while light pruning for health and clearance can be done at almost any time. Use specialist tree pruning saws for a clean slice just above a side bud or lateral branch that's at least a third of the diameter of what you're removing. This helps the plant seal the wound efficiently and keeps regrowth tidy.
A plant can look green on top while its roots parch. The cure is deep watering: fewer sessions, more water each time, with enough slow soak to reach the full root zone. Watering in the cool of early morning is ideal. Plants begin to transpire soon after sunrise, drawing water from the soil, and cooler surfaces mean less evaporation than during daytime. Evening watering is acceptable in dry, summer weather, but do so before dark, as persistently wet foliage overnight can encourage disease on susceptible species.Young trees are where volume and consistency matter most. It's recommended they receive around 50 litres of water per week between May and August for the first three summers, changing the amount depending on the weather, species and soil type.Apply water slowly so it sinks to the root system rather than running off the surface. Note that a leafy canopy can deflect light showers away from the root, so don't assume a drizzly evening means a proper watering.For shrubs and hedges, apply the same principle: infrequent, thorough soakings are better than little and often. Use a rose head or soaker hose to mimic rainfall, and water at the dripline outward, where the fine feeder roots are most active.
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.
Mulch is summer's best ally: it reduces evaporation, buffers soil temperature and suppresses weeds, while biodegradable mulch feeds the soil. A top-up to around 5-8cm (2-3in) of organic mulch keeps moisture where roots can use it, saving you time with the watering can.
Keep a clean collar around trunks and stems and make sure the root flare is visible at the base of the trees. Piling mulch up the trunk traps moisture against the bark, invites rot and pests, and can push roots into the mulch layer instead of the soil.
Spread the mulch wide rather than deep (ideally towards the dripline) and resist the urge to heap it.
Powdery mildew appears as white, dusty patches on leaves and shoots, often spreading in warm, dry weather when roots are under-watered and air flow is poor. Early action and good husbandry (watering correctly, thinning affected growth) reduce recurrence.
Aphids cluster on soft tips, causing leaf curl, and secreting honeydew on which sooty moulds grow. They multiply fast in warm weather. Encourage natural predators (ladybirds, hoverflies), hose off small infestations or use targeted controls as needed.
Reduce stress: Avoid over-feeding high-nitrogen fertilisers that drive lush, mildew-prone growth. Maintain steady soil moisture and air circulation through light thinning. For mildew: Remove the worst-affected tissue promptly, water soil (not leaves), and consider approved fungicidal options if cultural steps aren't enough. Routine walk-throughs: Performing weekly checks by turning a few leaves and checking new shoots can help you catch small problems before they become big ones.
Deadheading keeps shrubs neat and often prolongs or renews flowering by redirecting energy from seed production into new buds and stems. Using cordless pruning tools such as the 18V ONE+™ Cordless Secateurs can make the job faster and less tiring, especially when working through large borders or mature shrubs. For roses, remove blooms as they shatter, cutting back to the first strong set of leaves or a side shoot. Repeat-flowering cultivars respond particularly well, pushing new buds on the next flush. Depending on the type, hydrangeas form buds on old wood or new wood. You should deadhead old-wood hydrangeas lightly and early, ideally by late July, to avoid snipping off nascent buds for next year. New-wood hydrangeas are more forgiving, but it's still wise to stop deadheading by mid-August so the plant can harden growth before dormancy. In all cases, snip just beneath the faded head rather than cutting deep into the plant unless you're intentionally reshaping.
The first cuts of the year set the tone for the season. Don't go too short too soon — that only stresses your lawn. Early spring is about building strength. Your focus in spring should be density, not reducing length. Start by setting your mower to the highest setting and just trim the top third of your lawn grass. Over the next few weeks, you can slowly lower the cutting height as the grass lawn gets stronger. Taking it easy at first helps the grass grow thicker from the bottom up, giving you a fuller, healthier lawn in the long run. Wait until the grass is about four inches tall and has that nice, strong green look before you mow. And always mow when it's dry. Wet grass clumps together, clogs up your mower, and blocks sunlight from reaching the grass underneath.
Re-cutting the edges of a lawn is one of the easiest ways to create a neat, well-defined finish. Clear edges help separate grass from borders, paving or driveways and make the overall layout of a garden look more deliberate and tidier. Instead of labouring with an old-fashioned half-moon iron or spade, use a RYOBI ONE+ Cordless 22cm Lawn Edger to make this usually time-consuming task quick and effortless. Its 22cm blade easily powers through soil to shape new edges or refresh old ones, while front and rear guide wheels help to keep every line straight and smooth. Regular edge maintenance prevents grass from spreading into borders and helps keep the garden looking organised throughout the season.
How often should I trim my hedges in summer?
Most hedges benefit from one to two light trims during summer, depending on how vigorously they grow. Formal hedges such as box, privet and yew may need a touch-up in June and again in late summer, while slower deciduous hedges like beech often only need shaping once.
Why are my hedge trimmer blades getting clogged up with sap?
Soft summer growth produces more sap and moisture, which can gum up blades. We recommend regularly cleaning blades with a resin remover or light oil and keeping them sharp to reduce tearing and sap build-up.
Why are my shrubs producing fewer flowers this summer?
Reduced flowering can be caused by pruning spring-blooming shrubs in winter, meaning they won’t bloom as well because the flower buds are removed when pruning. Summer-blooming plants can be affected by frequent pruning, which can cause a reduction in flowers. Inadequate sunlight or stress from watering can also produce fewer flowers.
Some shrubs naturally have alternating strong and weak flowering years, especially if they were heavily fed or allowed to set too much seed the previous season.
What's the best way to control weeds around trees without damaging roots?
Avoid deep hoeing, which can disturb feeder roots. Instead, use hand-weeding, light surface cultivation or maintain a consistent mulch layer to suppress regrowth naturally. For larger areas, the 18V ONE+ Cordless Garden Hoe can make shallow cultivation quicker and easier without disturbing deeper roots.
Should I fertilise my lawn while caring for trees and shrubs in summer?
You can, but be cautious. Lawn fertilisers are typically high in nitrogen, which can promote soft growth on nearby shrubs if granules drift into borders. Water lawns well after feeding and keep fertilisers away from the root zones of young trees. For more precise application, the 18V ONE+™ Cordless Backpack Sprayer helps distribute fertiliser evenly across the lawn while reducing the risk of overspread into surrounding beds and borders.
Caring for your trees, shrubs and hedges through summer sets them up for year-round strength. When you work with the right tools, those jobs that once felt time-consuming – trimming, pruning, clearing, watering, and mulch maintenance – become quicker and far more enjoyable.
With RYOBI's ONE+ cordless garden tool range, you get the freedom to move through every task without switching power sources or juggling multiple batteries.
Whether you're giving young trees a deep soak, trimming back summer growth or refreshing mulch around your shrubs, the ONE+ system keeps your tools lightweight, cable-free and ready whenever you are.
Explore the full range and visit the RYOBI learning hub for more practical guidance on keeping your outdoor spaces healthy, resilient and looking their best all season long.