While you are still enjoying summer, it is also already time to prepare for fall and winter.

Fall is the ideal time to replenish your borders with hardy plants; the soil is still warm, so the plants can establish well. Your plants will start in spring with a head start, grow bigger and bloom more beautifully.

Move

You can transplant perennials all year round, as long as it doesn’t freeze. You get the best results if you do this during the plants’ dormant period. And that is now, in the fall (September to November) or in the spring (March to the end of April). For plants that can’t stand frost, spring is best. Also, if it is very wet in the fall, transplanting in the spring is better. You can read how to do this here.

Parts or tears

When perennials get too big or stop blooming well in the middle, it’s time to divide or tear them. For more info, check out our blog “Dividing and Tearing.

Late summer bloomers

Brighten up your patio, balcony or garden table with autumn flowering plants. Think autumn asters, Herb anemones in pink or white or the Sun Hat in different colors. Mix and match for an attractive garden, even in autumn. Oh yes, and do keep watering, because rain cannot always keep the soil moist enough.

Snails

Do you still have a lot of snails? Keep catching them because they usually mate in the spring and fall. Every adult you catch now means three hundred fewer eggs in the spring.

Help the climbers

When climbing plants such as Clematis, Honeysuckle and Winter Jasmine slowly stop growing, it’s a good time to check them. Secure loose branches so they don’t get damaged during fall storms. When the plants begin to grow again in the spring, they will be in good shape right away. Also replace tie wire if it is too tight, otherwise it can grow into the branch.

Prune your hedge

Prune hedges and forms of evergreen plants such as yew, boxwood and privet so that they go neatly into winter. Use a hedge trimmer (electric or otherwise). Do this on a dry, mild day so the hedge is less stressed. Lay down a piece of tarp where you are working; this makes cleaning up the trimmings easier.

In short, there is plenty to do to get outside and fully enjoy late summer or a refreshing shower! 😊🌞🌧️