Take advantage of the remaining warm days to prepare for the imminent cold.
Pictures + Words by Mira Peck
As gardeners, we’re constantly striking a balance between being present to our current season while also having one eye toward the next one. We appreciate and celebrate the bounty of summer as it’s happening—but we also prepare for all the fall jobs ahead. Even if warm temps continue well into September, I know the crisp air is coming. These are some tasks to start working on now.
For starters, order your spring blooming bulbs. These types of bulbs (such as tulips, daffodils, allium, etc.) are usually planted in October and November, but to get the best pick of my favorite varieties I like to order my bulbs no later than August. We plant them in fall (garlic too!) when soil temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Soil temps below 50 degrees will stimulate root growth and prepare the plants for winter.
Next, it’s helpful to look back at what you didn’t get done last spring in terms of planting and take inventory of your current garden. Note any replacements or additions that are needed. Fall is a great time to plant perennials, shrubs and trees. Just like with bulbs, the lower soil temperatures aid root growth potential and water requirements are less because you aren’t heading into the intense heat. Take stock of what you’d like to plant and—especially if it’s a specimen tree or rare variety—source it early.
Digging your Dahlia tubers is another big project that happens in the fall and now is the time to make sure that all your Dahlia plants are properly labeled. Make note of the ones you love and want to keep, and the less desirable ones that won’t make the cut. You won’t dig the tubers up until a few hard frosts have killed the plants, but once that happens if they’re not labeled you won’t know which is which.
Another fun project is to save your own seeds. It’s so satisfying for me to save the seeds of my favorite varieties and watch them grow and flourish the next year. It might be a unique peachy colored nicotiana I’ve never seen before, or the one glowing mauve zinnia that takes everyone’s breath away. Now is the time to label the specific plants you want to save seed from, otherwise they’ll soon all look the same.
Celebrate the late summer abundance and enjoy it until the very end—and remember that seasons are always changing, bringing new gardening tasks and delights.
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