Great tips from Homestead Gardens August 2024 Newsletter

How can I tame my ragged garden? 
Now that it's late summer, your garden may be looking a bit unruly and even spent. Here's a quick guide to evaluate and refresh to give your landscape a quick end-of-season revitalization.
 
Intention vs. reality
Often, gardens don't go as planned, and if you find yourself discouraged please know that you're not alone. Some plants may not be flowering as expected, or they're flopping. Maybe a couple of plants grew larger than expected or spread more vigorously. Late-summer is a great time to take notice of these short-comings and
rejuvenate your garden.
 
Taming the perennial garden
Prune early bloomers
Most early-season perennials can be cut back by 1/3 to make way for neat, low foliage. 
Late bloomers
You may be noticing that your late bloomers are fading. Deadheading spent blooms will encourage fresh ones. We do not encourage a complete "chop" of native perennials at this time in the year unless they are diseased or overcrowded. Seedheads and stems provide wonderful fall & winter interest, not to mention they provide habitat for overwintering insects & food for non-migratory birds. 
 
Always be sure to research individual varieties to see when it's best to prune, as each responds differently. For instance, if you're growing lavender, pruning it back in August after flowering is beneficial for shape & health. If you feel like you must do something, consider dividing. Just be sure you will be around to nurture and care for divisions as you promote root growth. If you can't commit now, take note and wait until fall to divide.
 
You can always stake floppy perennials to help keep them upright. Carefully insert the stake into the ground and loosely tie the stem to the stake using a natural material like cotton/hemp/jute/linen twine.
 
Introduce new plants.
The lifespan of perennials varies based on site conditions and variety. If you find that your plants underperformed, now is a great time to remove them and replace them - again, if you will be around to nurture their growth in the summer heat. Remember to incorporate compost and beneficial nutrients into the soil to encourage healthy root establishment. To sum up - taming the perennial garden is best done in the winter after several hard frosts or after signs of stress & disease are present. If you notice your plants didn't perform as expected, replace them with new ones.
 
Evaluating annuals
Annuals are wonderful in that they provide lush, perpetual color & foliage through the heat of the summer. If you notice them struggling at this point in the season, there are several things you can do to revitalize. 
 
Deadhead
Remember to regularly remove spent blooms to encourage new growth and prolong flowering. 
Thinning 
If annuals are overcrowded, thin them out to
improve air circulation and prevent diseases. 
Replenish 
You're likely watering more often during the peak of the season with most days hovering around the 90's. Be sure to fertilize to support healthy growth.
Replace
Annuals can get leggy, scraggly and even stop blooming. Don't be afraid to replace them for a late-summer refresh.
 
Get the most from your veggie garden
Harvest often 
Plants will produce higher yields if picked frequently. When the fruit load gets too high, the plant will stop producing new blooms. 
Thin as needed 
Revive tired looking plants by removing damaged fruits, leaves & stems - this also prevents overcrowding and disease. 
Plan(t) for fall
Fill empty spots in your garden by sowing seeds of peas, lettuce, arugula, radishes and spinach. These fast growing, cool weather crops will be ready for harvest by the time the tomatoes and peppers are coming to an end.
 
Summer tree & shrub trimming
Hold off on heavily pruning woody plants unless they pose a safety risk (we're looking at you afternoon thunderstorms). Removing a few branches here and there to tidy up is okay so long as you follow these tips. 
Fruit 
Fruit production and quality can be improved with proper thinning of blooms and fruits as they set. 
Evergreens and  deciduous: 
You can do some light trimming, such as shearing tips or making small thinning cuts less than 1" in diameter, in the summer, but save the major pruning for the dormant season. Dead branches. If you spot dead, broken, or dying limbs, you can remove those at any time.