Treating Your Garden Through the Late Summer Heat and Into Autumn

As we move through late summer, our gardens are entering an important transitional period. We may still be enjoying plenty of warm, sunny days, but cooler evenings, shorter days and the first signs of autumn aren't too far away.

After weeks of sunshine, heat and dry weather, some plants may be looking a little tired and in need of extra attention. At the same time, there are jobs you can start doing now to help your garden continue looking its best as we move towards autumn.

From watering and feeding to tidying, treating and caring for tired plants, here are some tips from Rowena Garden Centre for looking after your garden during this changing season.

Keep Watering While the Warm Weather Continues

It can be tempting to start reducing watering as summer draws towards its end, but warm and dry weather can continue well into late summer.

Pots, hanging baskets and containers are particularly prone to drying out, so keep checking the compost regularly. Plants that have been put in the ground recently will also need extra attention while their roots become established.

When watering, give plants a good drink around their base rather than a quick splash over the surface. This helps the water reach deeper into the soil where the roots can access it.

Early morning is an ideal time to water. If that isn't practical, the evening once temperatures have cooled is another option.

At Rowena Garden Centre, you'll find watering cans, hoses and other watering products to help keep your garden hydrated through the remaining warm weather.

Give Tired Summer Plants Some Attention

After producing flowers and new growth throughout summer, some plants can begin to look tired by this point in the season.

Removing faded flowers, yellowing foliage and damaged growth can instantly make borders, pots and baskets look tidier.

Regular deadheading can also encourage many flowering plants to continue producing blooms into late summer and early autumn.

Take a walk around the garden every few days and look for plants that need a little attention. A small amount of regular maintenance can make a surprisingly big difference.

Feed Plants That Are Still Growing and Flowering

Many summer plants are still actively growing and flowering, particularly those in containers and hanging baskets.

These plants may benefit from continued feeding with an appropriate plant food to support them while they're still performing.

However, as we move further towards autumn, the needs of your plants begin to change. Some plants naturally start slowing down as the growing season comes to an end, so feeding shouldn't simply continue indefinitely.

Always choose a feed suitable for the type of plant you're growing and follow the instructions provided.

If you're unsure whether you should still be feeding a particular plant, speak to the team at Rowena Garden Centre and we'll be happy to help you choose the right product and approach.

Treat Dry and Stressed Plants

Plants that have experienced prolonged periods of heat can sometimes continue showing signs of stress even after temperatures begin to fall.

Wilting, dry or damaged leaves and tired-looking growth can all be signs that a plant needs some extra care.

Before automatically watering, check the soil below the surface. If it's dry, give the plant a thorough drink. If the soil is already moist, adding more water may not help and could potentially create other problems.

Remove badly damaged or dead growth where appropriate and continue monitoring the plant as the weather changes.

If you're unsure what's causing a plant to struggle, bring a photo into Rowena Garden Centre and our team can help identify the problem and recommend a suitable treatment.

Refresh Your Pots and Hanging Baskets

Summer containers can start looking a little tired as we head towards autumn, but that doesn't mean they have to be cleared away immediately.

Start by removing spent flowers and any plants that have finished performing. Healthy plants that are still flowering can be kept going with regular care.

As gaps begin to appear, you can gradually refresh containers with plants that provide colour and interest later in the season.

This is a great way to transition your garden from its summer displays into an autumn look without having to change everything at once.

Help Your Soil Recover

After a long, dry summer, your soil deserves some attention too.

Adding suitable organic matter or mulch around established plants can help retain moisture while conditions remain warm and can also improve the garden as we move towards autumn.

Before mulching very dry ground, water it thoroughly and allow the moisture to soak in.

Mulching can also help suppress weeds, keep borders looking tidy and protect the soil as conditions begin to change.

Give Your Lawn Some Late-Summer Care

Lawns can take quite a battering during hot, dry weather. If yours is looking brown or tired, don't assume it has been permanently damaged.

Established grass can be remarkably resilient and may begin to recover as temperatures become cooler and rainfall increases.

Avoid cutting the grass extremely short, particularly while the weather remains warm. As conditions become more favourable, your lawn can gradually begin its recovery.

Late summer into early autumn is also a useful time to assess your lawn and decide whether areas will need additional autumn care.

Give Your Garden the Care It Needs at Rowena Garden Centre

Late summer is all about finding the balance between keeping your summer garden looking its best and beginning to care for it as autumn approaches.

Continue watering when conditions are hot and dry, give flowering plants the nutrition they need, remove tired growth, keep an eye out for problems and gradually start refreshing areas that have finished their summer display.

And if you're not sure what your garden needs, come and visit us at Rowena Garden Centre.

From plant feeds and treatments to watering products, seasonal plants and everyday garden-care essentials, we have everything you need to help your garden through late summer and into autumn.

Pop in and speak to our friendly team – we're always happy to offer advice and help you find the right products to keep your garden looking its best as the seasons change.