As we move into the second half of summer, gardeners still have plenty of work to do to keep their gardens productive and healthy. 

Tending to vegetables 

Sunshine Greenhouse owner Dorinda Penner says maintaining adequate moisture is especially important, while regularly harvesting vegetables can encourage plants to continue producing. 

“You want to pick your beans, cucumbers. Keep picking your fruit and vegetables so they keep producing,” she says. 

That includes zucchini, which Penner recommends harvesting while it is young and tender, as well as baby lettuce. 

Flower gardens also need attention through August.  

Blooming plants should continue to receive fertilizer, while gardeners should deadhead and trim plants as needed. 

While August isn’t a major planting month for vegetable gardens, gardeners can still sow cool-season crops such as lettuce and spinach. 

“Those are great cool-season crops that you could run another little row in your garden,” says Penner. 

Looking ahead to fall, September is also the time to plant garlic and tulip bulbs for next year's garden. 

Perennial maintenance  

Perennials and roses can also benefit from some maintenance.  

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Penner recommends pruning spent blooms and continuing to deadhead roses throughout August to encourage new blossoms. 

By the middle of September, she says gardeners should allow rose hips to develop, which naturally signals the plants to begin moving toward dormancy. 

Herbs and fruit tree care 

Herbs should continue to be harvested as well. 

Gardeners with an abundance of basil or parsley can dry or freeze some for later use, while regular harvesting helps prevent the plants from moving into the blossom stage. 

One other task to keep in mind this time of year is caring for apple trees.  

Penner says some trees are carrying heavy crops, and removing some of the fruit can reduce the weight on branches and help prevent them from breaking. 

“Get rid of some of that weight that’s bearing on those branches and that will put more energy into the rest of the apples on your tree.” 

She adds that August can also be a good time to plant trees, as cooler evenings make conditions favourable for adding a shade tree or other new addition to the yard. 

“Our evenings are cooling off. It’s a wonderful time to add that addition to your yard,” she says. 

With plenty of summer still ahead, gardeners can continue enjoying the colour and harvests their gardens have to offer while preparing for the changing seasons.