Mulches on landscape plants can be decorative and aid in preventing moisture loss as well as cooling the root system. Don't over do a good thing. Stacking mulch too high against bark or plant tissue unaccustomed to being wet can cause problems. Taper the mulch away from the main stem. Sedums, ornamental grasses, gaillardia, rudebeckia and daylillies for example are great examples in the perennial plant category.
Herbs continue to grow in popularity and are perfect for the summer gardens.
Functional as they are beautiful, most herbs like a lot of sunlight and warm weather. Basil is a good example of a herb that thrives in the sun and its both decorative and tasty. Lawn fertilizers high in iron content are great for summer applications to help bring color back to the lawn without producing the spurt of growth requiring a lot of cutting. Don't cut more than a third of the length of the blade when mowing. By keeping the grass longer, you shade the crown of the plant, improve the plant's ability to produce energy through pothosynthesis, shade out sun loving weeds and provide plenty of oxygen for you and your neighbors.