10 HOT TIPS FOR SUMMER

Summer is a great time of the year with plenty of warm sunshine and long days, however it’s also a time that your furry friends and green gardens need some extra attention to keep them happy and healthy!  So, we’ve come up with 10 TOP TIPS to help your pets and gardens thrive throughout these warmer months.

 

	FEED WET FOOD IN SUMMER Pets don’t always take in as much water as they need in summer so including wet food in their diet is an easy way to make sure that they are getting enough fluids.  It’s a bit like mum hiding broccoli in the meatloaf!  Premium canned food still has all the nutrients of dry food but with the bonus of a higher water content to help keep your dog or cat hydrated during the heat of summer.
	TREATS ARE COOL! Dogs love a cool treat.  Make delicious ice blocks from diluted low-salt chicken stock which has had carrots, peas and meat chunks added or freeze roo bones for a cold treat.  Hugs Hydro Toys are also a great idea as they are soaked in water which slowly releases during the day as the dog chews on them or, for teething puppies, try the frozen Arctic Toys which help soothe their inflamed gums.
	A COOL PLACE TO LAY In summer dogs need a cool place to rest their belly but when they lay on hard tiles or concrete for to long they sometimes end up with sore joints, especially older dogs that suffer from arthritis.  Cooling mats are a great solution.  They are filled with gel which stays naturally cold for hours and give dogs a cool, soft place to lay on a hot day.  Even though it’s not necessary, you can even pop these in the freezer to make them extra cold.
	SLIP! SLOP! SLAP! Dogs can get sunburn too!  Any dog can get sunburn but those with thin fur or light coloured skin are most susceptible and it can happen in just 30 minutes.  Human sunscreens aren’t suitable for dogs but we have pet-safe sunscreens that can be put on dogs noses, ears and around eyes and will stay on for several hours.  We also stock Troy Protecta which is a fly repellent that also includes a sunscreen.
	GIVE FLEAS THE FLICK Fleas drive pets mad! Spot-on treatments are brilliant but fleas also live in bedding and in the sand around the garden or kennel where they will continue to breed unless they are killed too.  The solution is to spray Coopex around these areas and anywhere that the pets hang out.  It’s so safe that it is even used in commercial kitchens and will last up to 4 months.  Spray it around the outside walls, windows and doors to control flies and mozzies too.
	STOP YOUR SOIL FROM REPELLING WATER WA soil can repels water.  This is because the oils from native trees and mulches coat the sand grains in the soil resulting in the top layer acting like cling wrap, stopping the water from getting down to the roots.  You can see this when watering as it will pool on the top or run off down the path and when you dig down, the soil will still be dry.  Wetting agents work to break this coating up so that the water can get through.  Re-apply every 2 to 3 months in summer and if using a granular form, water it in straight away.
	LAY A COOL BLANKET OVER YOUR GARDEN A 5 to 10cm layer of mulch across the garden bed will act like an insulating blanket and stop moisture in the soil from evaporating and it will also keep the roots of the plants, which are closer to the surface than you think, from being damaged by the heat.  Bagged mulch is easy to move around the garden and a freshly mulched garden always looks stunning, even in the heat of summer.
	PROTECT YOUR GARDEN FROM THE HEAT Start using Seasol on the lawn, vegies and the garden beds every fortnight to help them cope with the summer heat.  Seasol thickens the cell walls of the plants so that they can withstand the damaging sun and dry winds and it also helps them to establish strong root systems so that they are better at seeking out moisture in the soil.  You can never over do Seasol, but remember that it’s not a fertiliser, it’s a tonic so you will still need to maintain your normal fertilising regime in the garden.
	CONTROL ANTS AND YOU WILL CONTROL THE OTHER PESTS TOO Ants are excellent farmers!  They farm aphids, scale and mealy bug because they like the honeydew that they excrete so you often see a trail of ants in the same places as you these other pests.  Ants will pick their ‘pest herd’ up and carry them to a better spot in the garden so that they continue to grow and multiply.  When trying to control aphids, scale or mealy bug, you must get rid of the ants too.  Try Antex Granules along their path and around their ant nests.
	CHLORINE LEVELS DROP AS THE TEMPERATURE RISES The amount of chlorine that you need for your pool increases in summer because the sun’s UV rays can ‘eat’ away at it plus there are more swimmers spending time in the pool coated with sunscreen and body oils.  Check your pool chlorine and pH levels every morning before the first swim and twice a day on very hot days and remember to be diligent about keeping the pool water at the correct levels for the safety of the swimmers.