Late Summer Garden Checklist: 10 Things To Do Before Fall Arrives
August may feel like the peak of summer, but it’s actually one of the most important months in the garden. A little maintenance now can keep your landscape looking beautiful through fall while setting your trees, shrubs, lawn, and garden up for success next spring. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just getting started, here is your late summer checklist.
1. Keep Watering, But Water Deeply
Hot August temperatures can quickly dry out gardens. Instead of watering every day, give your plants a deep soak a few times a week. Deep watering encourages stronger root systems and helps plants better tolerate heat and dry conditions.
2. Deadhead Spent Flowers
Remove faded blooms from perennials and many shrubs to encourage continued flowering and keep your garden looking tidy. This simple task helps many plants put their energy into producing more blooms instead of seeds.
3. Watch for Pests and Disease
Late summer can bring increased pest and disease activity as plants have been growing throughout the season. Take a few minutes to inspect your plants for unusual spots, discolouration, wilting, holes in leaves, or visible insects. Catching problems early can help prevent them from spreading throughout your garden.
🌿 SLGC Tip: If you notice something unusual on your plants, bring a photo or sample into SLGC. Our team can help you identify the problem and find the right product or solution.
4. Refresh Your Mulch
If your mulch has thinned out over the summer, add a fresh layer. Mulch helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, keep roots cooler during hot weather and it gives garden beds clean, finished appearance.
🌿 SLGC Tip: A layer of mulch about 3-4 inches deep is ideal. We also recommend keeping mulch an inch or two away from tree trunks and shrub stems to help prevent rot.
5. Stay Ahead of Weeds
Late summer weeds still compete with your plants for water and nutrients. Pull them before they go to seed to reduce next year’s weed problems.
6. Check Your Trees and Shrubs
Look for dead branches, damaged limbs, or signs of pests and disease. Avoid heavy pruning at this time of year, but removing damaged growth can improve plant health.
7. Start Planning Your Fall Planting
Late August is a great time to begin thinking about adding hardy trees, shrubs, and perennials. Cooler temperatures and warm soil create excellent growing conditions heading into fall.
🌿 SLGC Tip: Fall is one of the best times to plant in Saskatchewan because the soil stays warm while cooler air temperatures reduce stress on new plants.
8. Give Your Lawn Some Attention
If your lawn struggled through the summer heat, now is the time to prepare it for a healthy comeback next spring. Continue watering during dry periods and begin planning for aeration, overseeding, and applying a fall fertilizer. Fall fertilizing encourages deeper root growth and helps your lawn store nutrients over the winter, resulting in a greener, healthier lawn when spring arrives.
🌿 SLGC Tip: For the best spring green-up, we highly recommend Groundkeeper Phos-Free Lawn Fertilizer, available at SLGC. This phosphorus-free formula is specially designed for fall application, helping strengthen roots before winter and setting your lawn up for a lush, healthy comeback next spring. Our team can help you determine the right amount for your yard.
9. Harvest and Clean Up the Garden
Pick ripe vegetables regularly and remove any diseased or dead plant material. Keeping your garden clean helps reduce pests and diseases from carrying over into next season.
🌿 SLGC Tip: Healthy garden waste can be added to your compost pile, but diseased plants should be disposed of separately to help prevent problems from returning next year.
10. Enjoy Your Outdoor Space
Don’t spend every weekend working in the yard. Take time to enjoy everything you’ve grown this season. Sit on the patio, admire your flowers, and appreciate the hard work you’ve put into your landscape.
A few simple tasks in late summer can make a big difference for the health of your landscape this fall and next spring. If you need advice, fresh mulch, quality soil, hardy plants, or help choosing the right products, stop by Saskatoon Landscape & Garden Centre. Our team is always happy to help you make the most of your outdoor space.