Autumn is right around the corner! If your yard and garden could use some attention, now is the time to get your work gloves dirty before summer draws to a close.

What are the best yard and garden projects you can still complete before the cooler weather rolls in? Here are some late summer yard and garden projects that will keep you busy until Labor Day!

Maintain a Healthy Lawn

So far this year, the Greater Dayton, OH, region has experienced slightly higher than normal precipitation levels. Given the amount of rain we’ve had, your lawn may be looking healthy. However, it’s still important to stay on top of your lawn maintenance if you want your grass to continue looking lush and green.

Continue to pull weeds and spot-treat dandelions. Remove fallen tree branches after any occurrences of high winds. You should also keep an eye out for mushrooms and other fungi growth.

August and September typically experience higher precipitation levels than July. Keep an eye on the weather forecast in the next two months. Give your yard a thorough watering once a week if rain is not in the forecast.

If puddles form on your lawn, you may have compaction issues. You can remedy this by dethatching and aerating the grass. This will improve the flow of water and oxygen to your yard. Dethatching your lawn after cutting it and removing glass clippings will also prevent mushrooms from forming.

Prune Your Trees & Plants

If your yard is looking unkempt, now is the time for some much-needed trimming and pruning. Fall is the worst time for pruning because of the extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night, so now is the time to do it.

For this project, you will need gloves and hand shears. For larger hedges, bushes, and trees, you may need loppers or tree pruners. Wait to prune or trim on a dry day when it is not damp outside.

What is the difference between pruning and trimming?

Trimming involves shortening tree branches and stems to look a certain way.  Pruning involves the removal of dead, unhealthy, and overgrown branches and stems.

If your yard is shadier and your yard is experiencing mushroom growth, pruning and trimming your trees can help with this. Pruning will also divide your plants and flower shrubs and keep them from overflowing and growing on top of one another. By trimming your trees and larger hedges well into the fall, you can prevent fallen branches and keep them healthy when the colder temperatures arrive.

Start Harvesting Your Fall Plants

There’s still time for gardeners to make the most of summer! The time has passed to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, and blueberries, but there is still plenty of opportunities to grow leafy greens that are more tolerant of cold temperatures. If you haven’t started your garden yet, you can learn how-to here.

First, make sure you remove dead flowers and summer plants that are no longer producing. Give your garden the best soil for the fall made of compost, organic matter, or soil amendments such as kelp meal, seaweed, or rock phosphate.

Here are some vegetables and herbs you can harvest in the fall:

• Spinach
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Peas
• Turnips
• Beets
• Dill
• Parsley
• Chives

Not only do these leafy vegetables make terrific salads and toppings. You can also freeze some of them for use in the winter or make homemade chips out of them!

Plant Your Fall Flowers

With the days growing shorter and cooler temperatures on the way, now is an opportune time to change out your flowers. What are some of the best flowers you can grow in the fall? Here’s a list of some fall favorites:

• Black-Eyed Susans
• Pansies
• Chrysanthemums
• Dahlias
• Cosmos
• Dianthus
• Perennial Sage
• Asters

Remove dead foliage and weeds to prepare your autumn garden. As we move into September and October and the leaves start falling, stay on top of your raking. Before planting your flowers, lay out a fresh bed of soil.

Take Advantage of Summer Yard & Garden Projects

There’s still plenty of time to make the most of summer and get your yard and garden in order before cooler weather arrives. With a reinvigorated yard and garden, your home will look beautiful amidst the fall colors and well into Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Are you looking for more ways to enhance your home and make it special? Check out our blog for more ideas!