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…
late summer gardening
Garden Plants You Should Stop Fertilizing as Summer Ends
As summer starts running out of steam, your fertilizer routine deserves a second look. Continuing to feed certain garden plants simply because they still have green leaves can encourage tender new growth at exactly the wrong time, leaving plants less prepared for the cooler weather ahead. That does not mean every plant needs to go…
6 End-of-Summer Weeds You May Want to Identify Before Pulling
Late summer can reveal the plants that spent June and July quietly plotting a takeover. Before grabbing the garden gloves and yanking every unfamiliar green thing from the soil, take a closer look, because some weeds deserve a proper identification first. A few may irritate allergies, some can produce an astonishing number of seeds, and…
How Much Water Does a Garden Need During Late-Summer Heat?
Late-summer heat can turn a perfectly reasonable garden into a collection of thirsty plants by lunchtime. The tricky part involves knowing how much water actually helps because a quick sprinkle across the soil can look productive while doing very little for the roots. During hot weather, most gardens need consistent moisture in the root zone,…
7 Late-Summer Garden Checks That Can Prevent Winter Damage
Winter damage often starts long before the first snowflake falls, which makes late summer a surprisingly important time to inspect the garden. A cracked branch, dry root zone, loose stake, or forgotten hose can turn into a much bigger headache once freezing temperatures arrive. A little detective work now can spare plants from unnecessary stress…
Where Can Gardeners Find Free Mulch in Late Summer?
Late summer can make a garden look a little parched around the edges, and fresh mulch can help without making the garden budget groan. Fortunately, gardeners do not always need to visit a garden center and pay for a stack of neatly bagged material. Tree crews, municipalities, neighbors, compost sites, and even the lawn mower…
8 Garden Tasks That Become Easier in the Final Week of August
The final week of August gives the garden a funny little shift in personality. Summer still has plenty of heat left, but the calendar has started whispering about fall, which makes this an excellent time to tackle jobs that feel much harder when September arrives in a rush. Some tasks simply become easier because plants…
5 Plants That Can Fill Gaps Left by Tired Annuals
By late summer, some annuals look less like garden stars and more like they need a vacation. Petunias stretch, marigolds lose their swagger, and once-lush containers can develop suspicious-looking bare spots that seem to appear overnight. Instead of automatically buying another flat of annuals, gardeners can tuck in plants that offer lasting foliage, flowers, texture,…
5 Ways to Reduce Plant Losses During Late-Summer Travel
Late-summer travel can create a surprisingly awkward problem for gardeners: the suitcase gets packed, the itinerary looks fantastic, and the tomato plants remain at home silently wondering who will handle their hydration. A few days without attention can stress containers, newly planted shrubs, vegetables, hanging baskets, and thirsty houseplants, especially when heat and wind accelerate…
6 Perennials to Divide When the Hottest Weather Begins Easing
The hottest part of summer can make the garden look like it has officially checked out for the season, but late summer brings a useful opportunity: dividing crowded perennials. As temperatures begin to moderate, several established plants can handle division with less stress than they would during a sweltering midsummer afternoon. Division does more than…