James Grew James Grew

Cutting Back Perennials for Rebloom: How Strategic Trimming Brings a Second Flush of Color to North Hampton Gardens

By midsummer, many perennials look like they have given everything they have, but a well timed cutback can change that completely. In North Hampton, strategic trimming of plants like catmint, salvia, and geranium can spark a fresh flush of growth and bloom within just a few weeks. Seacoast Gardener shares which perennials respond best to this technique, how to cut them correctly, and the aftercare that brings borders back to life through the rest of the season.

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James Grew James Grew

Deadheading for More Blooms: Easy Techniques for Beginners

Discover how deadheading keeps your garden blooming all season long. Seacoast Gardener shares beginner friendly techniques for removing spent flowers, which plants respond best, and when to stop as fall arrives in Exeter and the New Hampshire Seacoast Zone 6b.

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James Grew James Grew

Early Summer Garden Checklist for the Seacoast

Early summer is one of the most important windows of the gardening year along the New Hampshire Seacoast. From finishing spring pruning to refreshing mulch and staying ahead of weeds, the steps you take now shape how your landscape performs all season long. Here is a practical checklist to keep your Rye garden healthy, beautiful, and on track through summer and beyond.

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James Grew James Grew

Water-Wise Gardening Guide: Surviving Summer Heat Waves in Exeter, NH Gardens

Heat waves are becoming a more regular part of Seacoast summers, and gardens that are prepared weather them far better than those caught off guard. In Exeter, water-wise gardening during extreme heat means deep watering before conditions intensify, maintaining a strong mulch layer, and knowing how to read what plants are actually telling you. Seacoast Gardener shares the practical steps that help shrubs, ornamental trees, and perennials come through a heat wave looking healthy and resilient.

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James Grew James Grew

Feeding Annuals for Continuous Bloom

Annuals are one of the hardest working plants in any summer garden, but they need consistent feeding to keep performing at their best from planting through fall. In Portsmouth, where coastal soils drain quickly and nutrients move through fast, a thoughtful fertilizing routine makes the difference between a garden that peaks in early summer and one that holds its color all the way through September. Seacoast Gardener shares the practical feeding schedule and grooming habits that keep annuals blooming continuously all season long.

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James Grew James Grew

How a Midseason Top Dress Keeps Portsmouth Gardens Strong and Beautiful All Summer Long

A well prepared spring garden still needs attention at midseason, and in Portsmouth, that moment arrives sooner than most homeowners expect. Mulch thins, compost gets absorbed, and the soil beneath it all is working harder than it was a few months ago. Refreshing mulch and adding a light compost top dress at this point in the season is one of the most practical and rewarding things you can do for your landscape. Seacoast Gardener shares exactly how and when to do it for the strongest results through the rest of summer and into fall.

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