Late Summer Garden Tasks

 

Summer is going to be coming to an end here soon and while I enjoy it, when it comes to gardening, I'm getting tired around this time.  So I start to prepare my garden for Fall.  That means there's a list of things I need to do for the next month to take advantage of the Summer weather but also ensuring I'm not rushing to do it all in Fall. Here's a list of garden tasks for late Summer.
Deadhead Perennials

I don't do this for all perennials because I do like to leave them around for the critters to dine on.  But I have some perennials that I do deadhead so I will take care of those while I have the energy and the daylight. 

 

Plant for Fall

I plant any fall crops now so that by mid September I can begin to harvest.  I also plant any new specific Fall loving plants that I see on clearance at the greenhouse. I also will plant milkweed seeds towards the end of Summer so they can settle in during the Winter and be ready to emerge in Spring.  I also will plant any hyacinth or tulip bulbs in late Summer/early Fall for next year's blooms. 

Divide Perennials

Now is a good time to split up any enormous perennials you may have. For me it's usually coneflower and black eyed susans. I sometimes have mums that I will divide and plant in other areas of my yard so they can settle in and enjoy the remaining warm days.  The Summer heat is much less towards the end of the season so it's not as brutal for these newly planted flowers.  

Remove Annuals

When some of my annuals start looking really spent I will pull them from my gardenbeds.  This leaves space for the perennials to fill out. It also makes my Fall gardenbeds look cleaner. 

 

Prune Shrubs 

Do your research to find out which shrubs and trees in your yard like to be pruned in late Summer/early Fall.  I always prune my Hydrangea, lilacs, and azaela bushes.  I know sometimes they say do it at other times of the year, but this is what works best for me and my yard. I also prune to keep things under control so they grow and fill back in next year to the same size they were the year before. 

 

Weed Gardenbeds

I prioritize a heavy late Summer weeding so that nothing goes to seed that I'll have to fight off again next year.  

 

Collect Seeds

Sometimes I'll collect seeds from my perennials and even my annuals around this time of year.  I leave plenty behind for the animals though. If you like to grow veggies from the prior year's haul, make sure to collect seeds from your vegetables now and prepare them so you can plant again in the Spring. 

 

Clean Garden Tools

After a long hard Summer of yardwork and tending to my garden all season I am always excited to give my garden tools a nice cleaning.  I usually soak them in a bucket of warm soapy water and then use a bristle brush to get all the gunk off. Make sure you let them fully dry before you put them back.  

 

Purge Your Garden Items

I also take this time to go through and get rid of any broken flower pots, nursery pots I no longer need, broken or faded garden decor, and things like garden gloves that are worn and ripped. 

Mulch

Prepare your gardenbeds for Winter now by mulching around your plants.  As leaves start to blow into my vegetable garden I leave them there and in Spring I will turn them into my soil. As they break down they will provide nutrients to the soil. 

Clear Up Containers

For my container arrangements I will pull any spent annuals, trim the dead flowerheads off some of the remaining plants, and add fertilizer if I want to try to give them one last boost for Fall. 

Getting a headstart on these tasks gives you more time to enjoy the season and how your garden looks in Fall.

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