Summer is finally starting to come to an end. For some, this is good news. This summer was one of the hottest in recorded history, for one thing. While we relish the summer here in Southern Ontario – as a respite from the long, cold, dark days of winter—weeks upon weeks of 37°C can be a bit much.
The end of summer is always a bit bittersweet for those of us who love to garden. The dwindling days and fading flowers remind us that, soon enough, we’ll be tucked in for winter.
The end of summer doesn’t have to mean the end of your flora fascination, however. First of all, the outdoor season isn’t entirely done yet! There are all manner of wildflowers that grow into the autumn in Southern Ontario, for one thing. There’s still a lot that needs to be done to prepare your garden for the coming cold season, as well.
Here’s our end-of-summer garden checklist for Southern Ontario. Make sure you get out there and enjoy your garden as much as you can before the snow comes!
Winter isn’t just hard on people. It can take a toll on your yard and garden, as well. The sub-zero temperatures can sometimes harm your perennials, for one thing. Extreme weather can damage your trees and shrubbery, for another. Plants can become susceptible to pest infestation, as well, as they themselves are also preparing for winter.
The autumn is also a fine time to perform some gardening activities that are hard to do in the intense heat or when your yard or garden is in use. Aerating your soil is one example. You don’t necessarily want a bunch of soil plugs cluttering up your yard and getting tracked inside during the spring and summer. The fall is an excellent time for yard aeration, as a result.
Here are some of the most important end-of-summer garden activities you should attend to before the cold weather comes.
Deadhead and Weed Your Garden
The end of summer is prime time for weeds. They’re basically flowers that thrive in less-than-ideal circumstances, meaning they’re still flourishing while the rest of your garden starts to dwindle.
It’s not uncommon for weeds to take over a yard or garden towards the end of summer. You’ll want to stay on top of that before they get out of control. Even more importantly, you’ll want to catch them before they can go to seed. Otherwise, your garden will be a riot of unwanted plants once the spring thaw comes.
You’ll want to deadhead your perennials, as well. Dead leaves and flowers take up precious energy your plants are going to need for the winter. It’ll also help your perennials flower and bloom for as long as possible, so you’ll be able to continue to enjoy them throughout the fall.
To deadhead your flowers, simply pinch right below the dead bud. Consider it like trimming the loose ends when you’re getting a haircut. It’ll spruce up your garden just like a fresh new do!
Harvest and Clear Space
Of course, you can grow a lot in your garden apart from wildflowers. If you’ve been growing vegetables, that means harvest season is very nearly at hand! You’ve no doubt been enjoying the fruits of your labour throughout the summer, for the more delicate and fastest-growing vegetables, but a lot of veggies come in, in earnest, during the autumn.
For above-ground plants, you’ll want to harvest the fruits and vegetables as soon as they’re ready. This allows the plants to produce more vegetable flowers, which allows more plants to be fertilized.
For root vegetables, you’ll want to pick those as they grow, as well. This allows more room for the remaining veggies to grow to their fullest potential.
Harvest season is one of the chief joys of gardening for the vegetable farmers out there. This means you’re going to end up with too much of certain vegetables, like tomatoes or zucchini for some common examples. Yes, you might can or freeze a lot of your harvest, but there’s nothing quite like fresh fruits and vegetables, straight from the garden, especially when you’ve grown them yourself.
One of the most fun things you can do to prepare for the end-of-summer for your Southern Ontario garden is discovering some new recipes! Discover some new things you can do with all of those tomatoes and zucchini, those potatoes and squash. You can even make extra and share some of the love with your friends and family!
Root vegetables aren’t the only thing that needs to be thinned out before the winter comes, however. You’ll also want to spend some time clearing out dead and dying plants. Not only will this help your yard or garden look its best, helping you to enjoy it during the dog days of summer and into the autumn, it also prevents things from getting out of control during the winter.
Clearing out your yard or garden is a prime time to consider relocating a tree to a better location. It’s the perfect time to find tree moving in Ontario!
If you don’t clear out your garden, it’s going to be a ruin by the time spring rolls around. Save yourself some headaches down the line and thin out the dead specimens now!
Save Your Seeds
Many of your annual plants will start to go to seed by the time autumn rolls around. There’s no point in buying new seeds every year if you tend to plant the same flowers and vegetables, year after year. Even if you don’t, there’s no sense in letting seeds go to waste! Some commercial seeds have been manufactured to not reproduce, as well, so it’s a good idea to stockpile natural seeds, just in case.
Worst case scenario, you can always share seeds with your friends, neighbours, and family. Help them save some money, as well, while also spreading natural, healthy seeds in the process.
If you’re going to be saving seeds, it’s useful to keep some seed packets from when you’re planting! Alternatively, if you want to get fancy, look around and see if you can find some vintage seed packs, to make next year’s planting season even more whimsical and fun!
Following these tips will help your yard and garden weather the winter, so it’ll be ready to go for next spring. It’s also a wonderful way to get out there and enjoy the remnants of the summer, to truly soak it in and appreciate the season. Those memories will help keep you warm during the winter.
Looking For Trees in Southern Ontario?
At Caledon Treeland, we understand how much natural beauty can enhance your life. Having trees in your yard or garden is an essential oasis of peace and tranquillity in an otherwise chaotic world.
Now that you’ve completed your end-of-summer garden checklist for Southern Ontario, you’re going to be brainstorming about your ideal landscaping. It’s the perfect time to think about planting a shade tree or an evergreen.
Once you’re ready to make your yard or garden look its absolute best, contact us today to schedule a consultation!