From Wilt to Wow: 10 great garden tips you need now

Water your plants at the base—that’s where they need it most. Additionally, add a layer of mulch to retain moisture and help prevent weeds.
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN

Vegetables exposed to direct sunlight can suffer from sunscald, a white, leathery patch that appears on the fruit's skin—it’s similar to sunburn in humans.
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN

Shade cloths can reduce the surrounding temperature by up to 10 degrees, helping to keep the soil cool.
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN

Keep plants healthy by removing any old, decaying leaves (left), leaves touching the ground (middle), or diseased leaves (right).
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN

Signs of insect damage include honeydew (a sticky substance) from aphids, or yellowing or brown-spotted leaves, like these tomato leaves, caused by spider mites.
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN

Cucumbers seem to grow quickly overnight! They are known as heavy feeders, drawing a large amount of nutrients from the soil to support such fast growth. Keep them productive with a top dressing of quality compost or an all-purpose organic fertilizer.
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN

Cucumbers seem to grow quickly overnight! They are known as heavy feeders, drawing a large amount of nutrients from the soil to support such fast growth. Keep them productive with a top dressing of quality compost or an all-purpose organic fertilizer.
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN

Harvest your veggies regularly—especially zucchini, cucumbers, and beans—to promote ongoing production. The more you pick these, the more they will produce!
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN