It’s late summer, and as I stroll through my gardens and field in the early morning hours, I can see and feel the approach of fall.
For gardeners and flower farmers, this is a time of the year we both love and hate. We’re looking forward to the cooler temperatures of fall but dreading the frigid weather that’s sure to follow.
Here we are in early September, and there’s still a lot going on in the gardens and field. The sedum is in its prime. The same is true of the buddleias and hydrangeas. The dahlias and gladioli seem to be providing most of the color, but just the other day I caught a glimpse of pyracantha berries displaying their autumn hues.
Here at the farm, the tall phlox have been outstanding. Although they’re starting to fade, they’re still holding onto their color. Tall phlox are graceful bloomers you can rely on to get you through summer and well into early fall.
When late summer arrives, I start thinking about the coming spring season. A successful, fruitful spring requires a lot of preparation. Here at the farm, we’re beginning to seed for the cool season crop and to place orders for spring-flowering bulbs. We’re also tearing out tired annuals with an eye on replacing them with autumn mums or spring-flowering bulbs. As for perennials, we’re trimming back dried foliage that has returned nutrients back to the plants to support next year’s growth. And we’re dressing the soil with a fresh layer of compost.
At the height of late summer, you’ll want to taper off the fertilization of plants that go dormant such as roses. However, I recommend continued feeding of flowers that are still performing at their best in containers.
As we move from one season to another, gardening seems to be all about departures and arrivals. Flower farming certainly runs full circle, requiring many hours to make those departures and arrivals possible. The reward is bounty of healthy, beautiful blooms.
Happy Late-Summer Gardening!
Pamela Anthony
Beehind Thyme Farm & Garden