Late Summer Shifts: Planning for Autumn

The light is changing, the evenings feel cooler, and your garden is starting to slow its summer sprint. Late summer is more than just a winding down—it's a strategic moment. This is the time to transition your garden with intention, planting the seeds (literally and metaphorically) for an abundant fall.

Welcome to Late Summer Shifts, where we prep for the next chapter of your garden story.

1. Observe & Reflect

Look around your garden—what thrived, what struggled, what surprised you?Take notes or photos of your layout, plant performance, and timing. These details will be golden when you plan next year’s garden.

Garden Journal Tip: Record things like harvest dates, pest problems, and weather patterns. You’ll thank yourself later.

2. Prep for Fall Planting

Now’s the time to plant fall crops if you haven’t already. The soil is still warm, which means fast germination—perfect for cool-weather favorites like:

• Lettuces & arugula

• Spinach & chard

• Carrots & radishes

• Broccoli, cabbage, and other brassicas

Countdown Tip: Check your local frost date and work backward using the crop’s “days to maturity” to make sure you’ll get a harvest in time.

3. Revive the Soil

Your garden’s been working hard all summer. Give it a boost before fall planting:

• Add a fresh layer of compost or well-aged manure.

• Consider a light application of organic fertilizer.

• Mulch bare spots to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Bonus Move: Plant a green manure or cover crop (like clover or rye) in empty beds to feed the soil over winter.

4. Tidy with Purpose

Start gentle clean-up now so it doesn’t feel overwhelming later:

• Remove dying plants or ones past their prime.

• Prune back overgrowth to open up airflow.

• Save seeds from healthy, strong plants to replant next season.

Seed Saving Starter: Dry seeds thoroughly, store in labeled envelopes or jars, and keep them in a cool, dry place.

5. Dream Ahead

Use this in-between season to dream and scheme for next year. Research new plant varieties, sketch layout ideas, and think about what you'd like to do differently.

This is the quiet planning that leads to explosive spring growth.

Autumn isn’t the end—it’s the evolution. As late summer whispers change into your garden beds, lean into the shift. With a little planning and care, your fall garden can be just as rewarding as your summer one.