The August Gardener

That said, there are some things that may spark a renewed interest this time of year. The vegetable garden may be ready to add new crops. Items such as onions, garlic, potatoes, and cabbage may have been harvested, and open space is available. This is great because fall crops can be started, like salad greens, broccoli, carrots, and beets.

Greens like lettuce, arugula, and spinach can be started from seed and sown directly in the garden. Root crops like carrots and beets can be started the same way. Broccoli and kale, this time of year, do best when planted in the garden as transplants. Purchase the plants at a garden center or nursery and plant them in the garden.

The greens will be ready for harvest by the end of September, and most of the other fall crops will be ready from late October through early November. And if they aren't quite ready to harvest, throw a row cover over the plants to protect them from frost and prolong the growing season.

If fall crops aren't your thing, consider planting a cover crop to add organic matter to the soil. Crops like buckwheat, which would need to be cut right after it begins to flower, can be left on the soil as a weed barrier and allowed to break down through the winter months.

In addition to the vegetable garden, the rest of the yard can be evaluated. When taking a walk through the yard, areas may stand out as spaces that should be re-worked, added to, or thinned out. Late August through early September are good times to divide and plant perennials, as well as begin new garden areas. Shrubs, trees, and perennials respond well to fall planting, particularly in September. This gives the plants plenty of time to root into the soil and establish themselves before the winter sets in.

Some ideas for the garden:

1. Consider transitioning some of the lawn to a meadow. The nice thing about a meadow, as opposed to a maintained perennial garden or a lawn, is the reduced amount of weeding, watering, digging, dividing, and mowing. A meadow is more "wilder", and plants move within the space freely, without our intervention. It changes from year to year, as the plants come and go, depending on how they adjust to the soil, sun, and moisture. One mowing a year manages a meadow, unlike a lawn, which is mowed weekly. After a meadow is established, watering is not necessary. Plants will either adjust or die, and that's ok.
2. Need some shade? Plant a few trees. Keep in mind their mature size when selecting trees. Some trees to consider: Thornless honeylocust (Gleditsia triocanthos inermis), blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), or willow oak (Quercus phellos).
3. Thinking about a screen? Choose a few deciduous shrubs (shrubs that lose their leaves in the winter). These will give great texture, nice fall color, and often great flowers in spring. Many deciduous shrubs can grow large, some as wide as 15 feet and as tall as 15 feet, making for great screening.
   1. For full sun, consider ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), nannyberry (Viburnum lentago), panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) and black chokeberry (Aronia malanocarpa). Know that all these plants have varieties that have been selected for flower, fall color, or size. Do a little investigating to determine which is best for your location.
   2. For part shade, consider winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata), coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus), and red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia). These plants also have varieties that have been selected for better flowers, fall color, or size.

In addition to planting new plantings, think about pops of color, like container gardening. This is something often thought about in the spring for the entrance of our home, or to give color on our decks and patios. But this can be continued through the fall months by replacing summer annuals with fall plants.

And, not just mums. Consider using different plants in fall containers, such as perennials that boast striking foliage color. Coral bells (Heuchera) and foam flowers (Tiarella) would fit the bill. Many cultivars of these plants have been bred for their leaf color.

Also, look at flowering cabbage and kale. These plants will stick around through Christmas.  Pansies add bonus color, along with asters. Grasses will add movement and texture to a container. Maybe plant some spring bulbs in the containers to add a pop of spring color. There are lots of options and combinations.

August is a great time of year to dream. September will be here quick enough, just in time to plant again!