The Mid-Summer Garden Refresh

by Andrea Gatherum

How to Keep Your Garden Beautiful Until Fall

By the time late July arrives, even the most beautiful gardens can start to lose a little of their sparkle.

Spring annuals may be slowing down. Hanging baskets aren't as full as they were in June. Early vegetables have been harvested, leaving empty spaces in the garden, and weeks of heat can leave flowers looking tired.

The good news?

Your gardening season is far from over.

In fact, late July is one of my favourite times to garden. A few simple changes can completely refresh your landscape and keep it looking beautiful well into September—and even October.

Here's how to give your garden a second wind.

 

Refresh Tired Containers

Containers work hard all summer.

They're exposed to full sun, warm temperatures and frequent watering, so it's natural for some plants to begin fading by this point in the season.

Instead of replacing the entire planter, start by giving it a little attention.

Remove any spent flowers, trim back leggy growth and clear away dead leaves. This alone can make a huge difference.

If there are empty spaces, tuck in a few fresh annuals to instantly bring back colour and fullness.

Some great late-summer choices include:

• Supertunias
• Calibrachoa
• Angelonia
• Lantana
• Begonias
• Coleus

A fresh layer of potting soil and a feeding with water-soluble fertilizer will help encourage new growth and blooms for weeks to come.

Garden Tip: Think of your containers like a summer haircut. Sometimes a little trim and a fresh look are all they need to shine again.

 

Plant for Colour Until Frost

Many people think planting season ends in June.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Late July is still a wonderful time to add colour to your garden, especially when you choose plants that naturally thrive in late summer.

Some of my favourites include:

• Coneflowers (Echinacea)
• Black-Eyed Susans
• Sedum
• Russian Sage
• Hydrangeas
• Ornamental Grasses
• Dahlias
• Zinnias

These plants provide colour, texture and interest when many early bloomers have finished.

Plant during the cooler parts of the day, water deeply after planting and keep the soil consistently moist while new roots become established.

Your garden will reward you with weeks of fresh blooms.

 

Plant Your Second Harvest

One of gardening's best-kept secrets is that many vegetables actually prefer the cooler weather that's just around the corner.

Late July is the perfect time to sow or plant another crop of:

• Leaf lettuce
• Spinach
• Kale
• Swiss chard
• Arugula
• Beets
• Radishes
• Green onions
• Cilantro
• Parsley

These crops mature as temperatures begin cooling, often producing sweeter, more tender harvests than they do in midsummer.

If you've already harvested garlic, peas or early potatoes, don't leave those garden beds empty.

Plant them again.

Your vegetable garden still has plenty to give.

Garden Tip: Healthy soil is the secret to every successful second harvest. Mix compost into empty beds before planting to replenish nutrients and improve moisture retention.

 

Prune for More Flowers

Not every plant needs replacing.

Many simply need a little encouragement.

Deadheading spent blooms tells many flowering plants to keep producing more flowers instead of putting energy into making seeds.

A light trim can also encourage fuller, bushier growth.

Plants that often benefit from midsummer pruning include:

• Petunias
• Geraniums
• Salvia
• Coreopsis
• Shasta Daisies
• Catmint

Always use clean, sharp pruners and avoid removing more than about one-third of the plant at a time.

With a little care, many plants will reward you with another flush of blooms before autumn arrives.

 

Feed for a Strong Finish

By late summer, your plants have used much of the nutrients available in containers and garden beds.

A midsummer feeding helps replenish those nutrients and encourages continued flowering and healthy growth.

Flowering annuals benefit from regular water-soluble fertilizer every week or two, while trees, shrubs and perennials appreciate slow-release fertilizer that feeds over time.

Don't forget hanging baskets.

Because they're watered so frequently, nutrients wash out quickly.

A consistent feeding schedule now will keep them performing right through the end of the season.

Garden Tip: Always water plants before applying fertilizer. Moist soil helps protect roots and allows nutrients to be absorbed more effectively.

 

A Fresh Start for the Rest of Summer

The end of July isn't the end of gardening.

It's simply the beginning of a new chapter.

Fresh flowers can replace faded blooms.

New vegetables can fill empty spaces.

A little pruning, feeding and watering can completely transform a tired landscape.

With just a few simple updates, your garden can continue to provide colour, beauty and harvests for many weeks to come.

So take another walk through your garden.

Notice what's thriving.

Notice what could use a little attention.

Then stop by Bradford Greenhouses. Whether you're looking for colourful annuals, beautiful perennials, fresh herbs, vegetables, fertilizer, soil or expert advice, we're here to help you enjoy every moment of the gardening season.

Because summer isn't over yet.

And neither is your garden.

Happy Gardening!

– Andrea & The Bradford Greenhouses Team