1. Speakers!

Music, Summer and Social Gatherings all go together! You’ll want a reliable and water safe (because you never know when a water fight might break out) option to entertain your friends and family! There’s tons of options – they can look like rocks so they blend in with the garden landscape or you can even invest in a pair of floating wireless speakers for your swimming pool!

2. A Fire Pit!

Who doesn’t like a good old bonfire? Every backyard should have a fire pit placed in a strategic location surrounded by some comfy lawn or patio furniture!

3. Lighting!

A well-lit backyard will allow the summer parties to continue. Even after dark! Lights can be embedded in stepping stones, mounted in fences or walls, or even placed in the pool! If you’re looking to add a “remote island” feeling to your backyard, try out some Tiki Torches!

4. Mosquito Repelling Plants and Candles!

No one likes mosquitos! Yet it might feel like there’s no escape from them during the summer months! Try planting mosquito repelling plants such as lavender or lemongrass around your backyard and patio. You can also try Citronella candles… Many stores have cute lantern type candles to add a creative summer flare to your yard!

There you have it! The top four things your backyard needs during this warm summer weather! What is on your top four list? Share in the comments below!

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With Summer’s end just around the corner, it is important that you prepare for the change of weather and prepare your garden and landscaping so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor (pun not intended) for as long as possible.

Save Seeds

Saving the seeds from your annuals is always a great idea. Most annual seeds can be gathered, placed in paper envelopes, labeled and stored in a cool, dry, dark place until they are needed in the spring. All annual ornamental grasses are perfect for seed saving (YOU CAN SEE OUR ARTICLE ON HOW TO USE ORNAMENTAL GRASSES HERE).

The end of summer is the time to watch for ripening seedpods so they can be dried for winter bouquets. The flowers sense the approaching cool weather and often burst with the last round of bloom. The colors will seem brighter against the sharp blue skies and crisp air.

The Flowers of Fall

The days will grow shorter and you will find yourself amazed at the strength of some of your annuals. The leaves of some straw flowers may shrivel with the mounting cold, but their bright orange, red, yellow or white petals will resist the frost and will continue to glow in the morning sun. The Fall also brings out the magnificent colours of cabbage, kale and other plants that need the nip of frost not only to grow but to make their leaves shimmer in the light. Lastly, there are the pansies. These will bloom all winter long where the winters are mild.

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Fruit & Vegetable Gardens

• Plant your fruit and vegetables that love warm weather (ie. corn, peppers, zucchini and squash, and basil).
• By planting your bush beans, summer lettuce and corn in intervals will spread out the harvest over several weeks.
• Harvest your beets, carrots, lettuce and chard.
• Keep your tomatoes staked, pruning the lower branches as needed to keep air flowing and discourage blights. You can also stake other needed plants including peppers and brussels sprouts.
• Hill up potatoes two – three times before letting them mature.
• Sow your seeds for your fall garden (ie. Brussels sprouts, long-maturing cabbage, rutabagas and turnips).
• Watch your fruit trees for any insects or diseases, and treat as needed.
• Thin your apples, pears and peaches when the fruit is the size of a nickel.
• Train your grapevines as needed and prune as needed.
• Harvest your strawberries and other berries as they ripen.
• Keep your garden beds weed free.

Flower Gardens

• Fertilize your roses and dahlias.
• Stake tall flowers as needed before they get too big and fall over.
• Divide you early blooming perennials as needed. If you do it this month, make sure to water it well until they’re established.
• Trim and remove any dying foliage from your spring bulbs. Now would be the time to move any that you would like.
• Remove seed pods from your rhododendrons and azaleas and prune your other spring blooming shrubs.
• Watch for signs of mildew, black spots or rust and treat if necessary.

Other Chores

• Fertilize your lawn for a second time if needed. Keep watering and mowing as well.
• Put out bait for slugs and snails if that is a potential issue.
• Trim your hedges mid-month.
• Start your watering cycle, soaking beds with soakers or drip systems every five days. Raised beds every four to five days in warm, dry weather.

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Unless you experience unseasonably cold, moist conditions, your spring bulbs should begin to yellow and will pull out of the ground with no resistance. Add these leaves to your compost pile but make sure not to remove the leaves before they are ready or your bulbs will not perform next year.

If you haven’t already began mapping out your garden’s spring bulb display, now is the perfect time to start! By doing this you will know which bulbs you want to purchase this fall.

Watch for signs of pests and weeds in your garden. If you catch them early enough you can usually keep them from becoming an epidemic that ruins your yard. Here’s some things to look out for:

• Watch your tomatoes for spotted leaves. If they develop leaves pull them off the plant and throw them in the trash. This will stop diseases from developing.
• Check your azalea’s for black spots on the bottoms. Lacebugs can become a very big problem but you wont notice the damage until August or even September!
• Watch out for standing water in your garden as they can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

As the temperatures grow, so will your grass! Avoid allowing it grow too long; it is best to cut less than one-third of the total length off at one time. If grubs were a problem last year then make sure you treat your lawn end of May or early June. Make sure to water your lawn deeply during dry spells. It is best to let the water soak into the soil rather than only watering enough to make the top of the ground moist.

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