End of Summer Garden Maintenance

  

Presently we have a few cooler days and I took advantage of the weather and started the end of summer garden maintenance.  So, I made a list of the garden tasks that need to be completed now so we can enjoy a maintenance free garden during the fall season.

 

Today I removed all of the seedheads from the annual flowers and put the seeds in an envelope.  I will use these seeds for next growing season. 

Then I removed all annual flowers along with wild grasses and weeds from the garden bed.  I also harvested any remaining vegetables and herbs for drying.

 

The end of summer is a good time to trim and prune perennial shrubs, trees and to transplant irises that are overcrowded.

Apply a layer of organic mulch or layer of leaves to your garden beds to enrich the soil during the fall and winter months.  Mulch is also a good way to protect perennial flower  roots from shifting soil due to freezing soils or soil movement.

Maintain your end of summer garden by watering trees, shrubs and fall flowers at least once a week.  

 

Take time to clean your bird feeders, bird baths garden tools, and your lawn mower.  It’s a good idea to take your lawn mower in for service so that its ready for the following season.