Fall Garden Planning Starts Now

As summer winds down, it’s easy to assume gardening season is coming to an end—but for savvy gardeners, August is actually the perfect time to start planning and prepping for a beautiful and productive fall garden! Whether you're looking to extend your harvest, plant colorful cool-season flowers, or tidy up your space before the colder months, a little planning now can make all the difference.

Here are some tips and ideas to get your fall garden started off right:

1. Evaluate Your Summer Garden

Take a walk through your garden and assess how things went this summer:

• What crops or flowers thrived?

• What struggled in the heat or didn’t produce as expected?

• Are there any open spaces where summer plants have finished?

Use this info to guide what to grow this fall. Pull out spent plants and refresh the soil so you're ready for new additions.

2. Plant Cool-Season Vegetables

August is the perfect time to start cool-weather crops that thrive as temperatures drop. Depending on your zone, consider planting:

• Leafy greens: Lettuce, spinach, kale, and arugula

• Root crops: Carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips

• Brassicas: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts

Pro tip: Start seeds indoors or in a shaded area, then transplant them once the weather starts to cool.

3. Add Fall-Blooming Flowers

If you’re craving color beyond summer, consider adding fall-blooming annuals and perennials like:

• Mums

• Asters

• Ornamental kale

• Pansies
  These vibrant blooms add warmth and life to your garden as everything else starts to fade.

4. Refresh and Enrich Your Soil

Give your soil a little love after the long, hot summer. Mix in compost or a slow-release organic fertilizer to replenish nutrients before planting fall crops. Healthy soil means stronger, more productive plants—no matter the season!

5. Tidy Up Garden Beds

Clear out weeds, trim back overgrown plants, and remove anything that looks diseased or damaged. This not only helps your fall garden look neat, but also keeps pests and problems in check going into cooler months.

6. Think Ahead to Spring

It might seem early, but fall is the best time to plant spring-blooming bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. Mark your calendar to shop for bulbs in early September so you’re ready to plant them as soon as the weather cools.

7. Plan for Season Extension

Want to keep growing even after the first frost? Think about using cold frames, row covers, or raised beds to protect plants and extend your harvest well into late fall or early winter.

8. Make a Fall Gardening Checklist

Stay organized by creating a checklist of what you want to plant, clean up, and prep. Having a plan in place makes it easier to tackle garden chores bit by bit as the weeks go on.

Wrap-Up: Start Now, Enjoy Later

Fall gardening is a rewarding way to squeeze more life out of your growing season—and it all starts with a little August planning. Whether you're planting hearty veggies, adding fresh color with seasonal flowers, or prepping your space for spring bulbs, there’s no better time to get started.

Stop by the store or give us a call if you need help choosing plants, figuring out your planting schedule, or refreshing your soil. We’re here to help you grow—season after season! 

Happy planting!