Enjoying Late Summer Gardening

Joe Pye Weed attracts beneficial insects

Here are some favorite plants blooming and growing this time of year when I want to enjoy my garden more than work in it. 

This is Heirloom Kale, I love the purple, crinkly look of it

Chard, not only healthy but ornamental, red stems are striking

Variegated Plectranthus, low maintenance. Overwinter it indoors

Perennial Oregano, a staple, always comes back. Love the yellow green against purple, dark green, or reds.

Perennial Salvia, aromatic. Jewels of Opar, reseeds but is not agressive. I like the yellow green, works well in pots, not fussy. See the tiny jewels on the stems?

 

Purple Basil is aromatic, ornamental, & great for cooking

Gardening tips for late season, August & early September:

• Continue to deadhead for maximum blooms until frost
• Start/seed your fall, cooler weather, garden.
• Continue to feed annuals & container plants with a complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 20-20-20.
• This is the time to dig and divide perennials, iris, other plants with rhizomes.
• Remember to water early day, deeply soak the ground near the plant. 
• Give spring flowering shrubs such as lilacs, forsythia, azaleas, etc. the final season's feeding of fertilizer
• Mums need plenty of water and fertilizer to give the best Fall season's show of color
• Remove dead plant debris, add mulch for weed control.  

Take care of you, the gardener, relax, drink a cool beverage under the shade, and enjoy your partnership with Mother Nature.

Submitted by Master Gardener, phughes, hutchgaudygardener.