The summer has certainly provided a mixed bag of weather for our gardens – pleasant days, cooler than usual days, downright hot days, and some severe and rainy days in between. While some plants and gardens have thrived, others may be looking a little ‘weathered.’
Here are five tips to help prolong the life of your lawn and garden through the remaining days of summer:
- Continue to deadhead perennials and annuals, keep up with weeds and water as necessary.
- Replace tired-looking annuals in beds, patio pots and containers with late summer flowering plants or ornamental grasses.
- Stop fertilizing trees and shrubs. Too much fertilizer weakens the root system and produces new growth that won’t have a chance to harden off before winter, making them less winter-hardy.
- Apply nematodes for grub control. A late summer application will help reduce the number of newly-hatched grubs that are small and close to the surface, thereby reducing numbers reaching adulthood next spring.
- Late summer is the optimal time for lawn repair. Overseeding your lawn is an easy way to fill in bare spots, improve density of turf and enhance your lawn’s colour.
Our experienced staff are happy to answer your gardening questions. Or for more information and tips, explore our gardening advice page and related tip sheets.