3 Late-Summer Gardening Tips

Dead Head: No, I don’t mean the tie-dyed, dread-locked, stinky version. I’m talking popping the heads off the dead flowers. If you’re garden’s looking a little tired in this late summer heat, dead heading is a good way to keep it looking fresh. Trim off dead leaves and flowers not only for appearance sake but for the plant’s sake as well. Plants will continue to put their energy towards anything attached to them so trim it if it’s looking sad and a plant’s energy will be more wisel distributed towards more lively parts of the plant.

Fill In the Blanks: Is all the color gone from your garden? Make a mental note of the areas in your garden that could use a little late summer pop of color and go fill in those blanks.with late blooming plants. Now is a great time to start thinking about literal gaps in your garden as well. Maybe you need to spread things out or thin things out. Start  your planning now because fall is a great time to transplant with the soil still warm and the temps a little lower. Look at the height of various plants now and see where they could fit in better. Maybe even map out how you want your garden to look so once the temps start dropping you’re ready to move.  Perennials go on sale in the fall too so it’s a great time to start thinking about what you may need to boost your garden.

Cold Frame: As summer edibles start maturing and being gobbled up, it’s a good time to start thinking about what you might be able to continue growing with the aid of a cold frame. Some crops will continue to grow into the cooler season, especially greens, if they have a little extra protection from the cooler Sierra nights. Cold frames are like mini green houses that sit on top of your beds and can be lifted off. Get a head start and begin constructing your cold frame now. The can also be used in the spring to protect your starts.