7 Gardening Tasks to Tackle Before the Summer Ends
These chores will help you set the stage for next year’s blooms.
Before hot summer days shift to brisk fall conditions, you might assume that your late-summer garden has given everything it has. But this transitional period between summer and fall is actually a surprisingly busy time in home gardens: While many plants are still producing, they’re also getting ready for the cooler weather. Not to mention, this narrow window presents the opportunity to give next year’s blooms a head start for a more abundant spring garden.
Because mid-August through late September helps set the stage for fall planting, winter dormancy, and spring growth, it’s the perfect time to tackle a few gardening chores. In this late-summer gardening guide, you’ll find must-do tasks that’ll help prepare your plants for the changing seasons while creating the right conditions for a beautiful spring. And while you’ll spot plenty of essential jobs, you’ll also notice what not to do. So, before the summer ends, be sure to cross these tasks off your gardening to-do list, courtesy of gardening experts Stefanie Verish, a horticulturist at Ohio-based Holden Forests & Gardens, and Julie A. Dellinger, marketing director of Garden for Wildlife by National Wildlife Federation.
Bookmark these fall gardening ideas for later:
Aim for Deep, Consistent Watering
In the hot, dry conditions that plague the end of summer, hydrating your garden is crucial. But the technique matters just as much—if not more—than the task itself. “Continuing to water the soil (not the foliage) deeply and less frequently will sustain your plants until the cooler temperatures arrive,” Verish notes.
Apply Mulch for Moisture Retention
Because late-summer heat increases the evaporation rate, mulching will help your plants lock in moisture. “Without touching the plant stems, spread a two- to three-inch layer of organic mulch or shredded leaf litter around the plant to trap moisture and regulate soil temperature,” Dellinger advises.
Know When to Deadhead
For some plants, snipping off spent flowers can give your end-of-summer garden one final wave of blooms before the first frost. While certain flowers will benefit from late-summer deadheading, others should be left untouched. Keeping some seedheads standing will help feed helpful pollinators, according to Dellinger.
Plant Native Perennials
Late summer is the time to get native perennials in the ground. “Warm late-summer soil paired with upcoming cooler fall air promotes rapid root growth before winter dormancy,” Dellinger explains. Plus, the rainy fall season will take care of your plants’ watering needs for you. Choose varieties that suit your region, and watch them burst to life in the spring.
Pull Early Weeds
Since summer weeds compete for nutrients, removing invasive growth is key before fall. “End-of-summer weeds are tenacious, and if they have a chance to establish roots or drop seeds, they’ll promise trouble during the next growing season,” Verish warns. Instead of using herbicides (which Dellinger says can kill beneficial pollinators), stick to hand-pulling.
Skip Fertilizers
Late summer is not the time to apply heavy fertilizers. That’s because loading up on nutrients that induce growth will leave the fresh shoots vulnerable to damage from the forthcoming cold weather. Verish explains that cutting back on fertilizing will help your plants focus on establishing strong roots, not producing new seedlings.
Enjoy the Harvest
After tackling the more strenuous or time-consuming gardening chores on this list, your only final job is to enjoy the fruits of your labor. “Whether you harvest ripening vegetables and fruit or cut flowers for bouquets, this is the wonderful return on all the work you have exerted during the growing season,” Verish says.
Lilly Blomquist is the associate editor at The Pioneer Woman, where she writes lifestyle stories across a wide range of topics—including news, entertainment, holidays, food, and more.
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