Well, summer is almost over and kids are back to school (albeit not in the normal fashion)—this year has been strange but it still seems to be flying by! While the days are still quite hot, slightly cooler nights are hinting that it will soon be fall.  As always, though, there are still things to do in the Garden.

Fall is a great time for planting—one of the best times actually.  The cooler temperatures ease a lot of transplant shock, yet there is still some time for plant roots to take hold before the winter sets in. So take advantage of those early fall sales at the local Garden Centers if you’re looking to add some more trees or shrubs to your landscape.

Speaking of planting, it will be time to start planting your spring-flowering bulbs a little later this month (think crocus, tulips, daffodils and hyacinths)!  Wildflowers, too, can be seeded in the fall.  And don’t forget to divide and re-plant any of your perennial flowers that are getting too big.

In the vegetable garden, continue harvesting the summer’s bounty to keep the plants productive.  Make sure your winter squashes (pumpkin, butternut squash, etc) have a hard shell before picking them to ensure a longer storage life.

Lastly, when it comes to your lawn, fall is an essential time to fertilize.  This will allow it to overwinter nicely and start off strong in the spring.  Re-seed bare areas so the new growth can get started before we start to see some major freezes.  This will help prevent muddy areas in the winter too.