The Bruce Company Blog

As summer wanes and autumn approaches, birds congregate in the trees and on overhead wires. The air is sweetly scented with ripening fruit. The light changes, becoming more golden. Everything seems ready to burst. Not in the tender, life is beginning way of spring, but in a more poignant manner that hints life in the garden is starting to fade.

For many gardeners, Labor Day marks the end of summer and the beginning of the autumn lawn care season. Cooler temperatures and more regular rainfall make this an excellent time to start a new lawn or repair an existing one.

What a difference a year makes! Under 3-inches of rain. No floods. Just 2 days with temps warmer than 85 degrees. August 2019 was a much quieter month weather-wise than August of 2018. And since the Autumnal Equinox is 25 days away, it’s time to turn our gardening thoughts to winter preparedness.

Adding spring-flowering bulbs to your garden borders is simple and rewarding, especially when those new crocus shoots emerge after a long Wisconsin winter.

Seesawing temperatures are the usual clue that we’re nearing the end of summer. But long-range weather forecasters predict that temperatures will hover in the very pleasant upper 70s and low 80s for the next 30 days, giving us lots of time to plant some fall veg and late-blooming annuals. So pretend for a moment that you’re just like the kids heading off to school. Think of your garden like a new box of crayons and add some color!

As the days shorten, it’s time to look at what late summer has to offer our gardens. And our number, go-to shrub for a fabulous display is that summertime staple, the hydrangea. Luckily, there is a variety for every garden, whether your garden is full sun or full shade and your boat is floated by the big, blowsy mop-heads or the more delicate lace-caps.

The Dog Days began later than usual and don’t end until August 20th, so there’s still plenty of summer weather to come. Cicadas and crickets have been singing us to sleep, but nights, though still warm, are noticeably longer. And sadly, summer days shorten. The season never seems long enough, but it’s time for gardeners everywhere to reap what they have sown.

The hot, dry weather that is typical of late July and early August can be hard on your garden plants. Many look a little bedraggled, and your borders might seem a bit boring after the stunning color of May and June. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of beautiful, colorful plants that are at their peak in mid to late summer.

You can give your garden borders and containers a quick update by replacing those tired looking Impatiens and Geraniums with plants that will thrive in the cooler temperatures to come. Brown Eyed Susans, annual Grasses and Amaranths can do double duty.  

Growers are introducing lots of new, and old, varieties. Designers are reworking standard tools in ergonomic ways. And information is so readily available. Many of us have planted vegetable gardens or have made room in our landscapes for fruiting plants.