Avoid These Common End-of-Summer Gardening Mistakes

As summer ends, it’s easy to let garden maintenance slide. But if you want your garden to thrive into fall and winter, avoiding some common end-of-summer mistakes is essential. Here’s what to keep in mind as you prepare your garden for the cooler months.

Weeds

🌱 Mistake 1: Letting Weeds Take Over
Weeds are still active in late summer, and if you let them go to seed, you’ll have more trouble next year. Stay on top of weeding, especially in garden beds, to save yourself work down the line.

💧 Mistake 2: Not Adjusting Your Watering
After a long summer, many continue warm-season watering habits into fall but keep in mind that plant needs change with the seasons.

  • Adjust your irrigation – As fall rains arrive, cut back on automatic watering. If you have a rain sensor, use it to avoid watering during a storm.
  • Watch new plants – Pansies and violas need consistent water as they get established. Avoid overwatering snapdragons.

Boxes of Bulbs

🌷 Mistake 3: Forgetting to Plan for Bulbs
Most people don’t think about bulbs until spring, but fall is the time to plan:

  • October is bulb season – Get your daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths now to ensure a beautiful spring display.
  • Chill your tulips – Tulips need to be chilled before planting, so store them in the fridge before they go into the ground.

🍂 Mistake 4: Neglecting Garden Sanitation
Diseased plant material can lead to more significant problems:

  • Remove diseased foliage – Clearing infected leaves helps prevent fungus or disease from spreading to healthy plants.
  • Rework mulch after the leaves fall – Old mulch can harbor pests or diseases. Replace it, especially under shrubs, to keep your garden healthy. When tidying up, compost spent plants and old mulch (but not weeds!) to help beneficial insects overwinter.
Zinnias and Marigolds

Zinnias and Marigolds

🌻 Mistake 5: Not Prepping for Fall
A little TLC before winter can go a long way. Whether weeding, removing diseased plants, or prepping bulbs, these tasks keep your garden healthy and ready for next season.

Need help? Visit Oak Street Garden Shop for everything you need to prepare your garden for fall and winter!

See you soon!