The grocery bill does not magically become smaller when summer ends. In fact, fall can create a sneaky little opportunity for gardeners because plenty of vegetables prefer the cooler conditions that send tomatoes and peppers packing. A few well-chosen crops can turn an emptying summer garden into another round of fresh food, giving the grocery…
fall gardening
Fall Leaves Could Replace Something You’re Paying for at the Garden Center
That pile of fall leaves gathering along the driveway may look like yard cleanup, but it can also replace products that gardeners routinely buy at the garden center. Instead of bagging every leaf and hauling it away, gardeners can turn those leaves into mulch, compost ingredients, or leaf mold for future garden use. A thick,…
9 Things Gardeners Should Never Throw Away at the End of Summer
The end of summer can make a garden look like it has nothing left to offer. Spent plants, half-used seed packets, empty nursery pots, piles of leaves, and crooked tomato stakes can quickly resemble a collection of gardening junk, but much of that “junk” still has a job to do. A little sorting can save…
Some of the Best Garden Bargains of the Year Show Up After Summer Ends
The calendar says summer is winding down, but garden-center bargain season is just getting interesting. Once the big rush for colorful annuals fades, many nurseries and garden centers start clearing space, which can create excellent opportunities to pick up plants and supplies for less. That does not mean every sad-looking plant in the clearance section…
8 Fall Garden Purchases That Are Usually Cheaper at the End of Summer
The calendar may still say summer, but garden centers are already thinking about fall. That shift can create one of the best shopping opportunities of the gardening year, especially for plants, pots, tools, and other seasonal supplies that stores would rather sell than store. A giant markdown sign can make almost anything look like a…
Is It Too Late to Plant Vegetables in September? Not in Many Parts of the Country
September gets an unfair reputation in the vegetable garden. The tomatoes may look tired, the cucumber vines may resemble tangled shoelaces, and the squash plants may have reached the stage where every leaf looks like it has seen some things. But that does not mean the garden has run out of useful work. In many…
10 Garden Expenses That Aren’t Worth Paying for in September
September can make gardeners spend their money on things the garden never asked for. Garden centers fill up with colorful plants, bags of mysterious amendments, shiny tools, and products promising to solve problems that might disappear on their own once cooler weather settles in. But September also gives gardeners a chance to save. A little…
Your Fall Garden Could Be Cheaper to Start Than Your Spring Garden
Spring gets all the gardening glory, but fall has a sneaky advantage: it can cost less to get growing. The season favors vegetables that handle cooler weather, many of which grow beautifully from inexpensive packets of seed rather than trays of pricey transplants, heat-loving plants, and all the gear that comes with them. That difference…
7 Garden Plants You Should Stop Fertilizing as Summer Ends
Fertilizer is like the garden equivalent of a helpful snack. A little boost seems harmless, especially when plants still look green and productive, but late-summer feeding can sometimes encourage exactly the kind of growth a plant does not need heading into cooler weather. For several common garden plants, August and early September mark the point…
Should You Keep Watering Your Garden the Same Way Once September Arrives?
September can fool a gardener into watering the garden exactly as they did in July. The calendar says summer has nearly packed its bags, but the soil may still dry quickly on warm afternoons, especially around thirsty vegetables, newly planted perennials, and containers. As temperatures gradually cool and daylight shortens, plants generally lose water more…