By mid-August, even the most beautiful flowers and garden beds can start to look a bit tired. Great news! Your plants aren't done yet! With a little late-summer TLC, you can spark a second wave of vibrant blooms that will carry you into fall.
Here 5 tips to make your plants pop!
Give them a "Haircut" If your plants are looking spindly, don't be afraid to prune! Cut back leggy growth by about one-third. This encourages the plant to stop stretching and start branching out, leading to a bushier, fuller look. For annuals like marigolds or zinnias, keep "deadheading" (removing spent blooms) so the plant puts its energy into new flowers instead of seeds.
Water Deep, Not Often The August heat is can be brutal. Instead of a light daily sprinkle, give your plants a deep soak in the early morning. This encourages roots to grow deeper where the soil stays cooler. Pro tip: Check your hanging baskets daily—they dry out much faster than plants in the ground!
Feed the Bloom Flowering is hard work! Potted plants especially wash through nutrients quickly. Use a water-soluble "bloom booster" fertilizer (look for one high in phosphorus) to give them the energy they need for one last show. Just be sure to water your plants before you fertilize so you don't stress the roots.
The "Pinch" Trick Want twice the flowers? Pinch off the very tip of a stem just above a set of leaves. Two new stems will sprout where there was once only one. It’s like magic for making your landscape look lush again!
Swap Out the "Done" Ones If a plant is truly crispy beyond repair, it’s okay to let it go! Swap it out for heat-tolerant stars like Lantana, Coleus, or SunPatiens to keep your curb appeal high all the way through the season.
Source: Gardening tips adapted from seasonal horticultural best practices for late-summer plant maintenance and rejuvenation.
