Irrigation: Check your irrigation system to prepare it for summer. You’ll want to ensure your landscape has adequate soil moisture. Irrigate thoroughly and apply enough water so that it wets the soil at least two feet deep. For loam soil, add about 3 inches of water. Deeply water fruit trees such as stone fruits, apples, and pears.

Mulch: Keep roots cool and reduce water usage by applying 3-4 inches of organic mulch to planting areas. For trees, ensure that mulch is at least a foot away from their trunks.

Deadheading: You can keep your landscape looking tidy and flower-filled by setting aside time each week to cut off spent blooms. Removing faded flowers from roses and other perennials will encourage new blooms.

Fertilizing: Add fertilizer to new, established plants, including camellias. Nitrogen fertilizer is ideal for warm-season crops.

Lawn Care: When it’s time to mow the grass, raise the mower blades to keep the grass blades higher. Higher grass blades protect against heat and can help retain moisture.

Wash: Your trees will benefit from a periodic wash. Give them a forceful spray of water, which can help remove dust, honeydew, and pests such as aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies.

Look for pests: Springtime means pests are out and about in your garden. Check for pests like the Diaprepes weevil on citrus trees. Aphids also like to cling to citrus and rose foliage —you can blast them off with a spray of water.