As summer winds down, there’s still time to elevate your outdoor space and set the stage for a beautiful fall landscape. Whether you’re looking to revitalize your lawn, add vibrant blooms, or create cozy outdoor living areas, these late-summer upgrades will transform your yard into a fall oasis. From simple DIY projects to strategic planning for the seasons ahead, we’ve compiled our expert tips to help you make the most of your outdoor space.
Revitalize Your Lawn for Lush Growth
Late summer is the perfect time to address common lawn problems and prepare your turf for the cooler months ahead.
Troubleshooting Common Lawn Problems
Late summer can bring a host of challenges to your lawn, from pest infestations to fungal diseases. Address these issues quickly to maintain a healthy turf. Look for signs of brown patches, thinning grass, or unusual discoloration. Treat pest problems with appropriate insecticides and fungal issues with targeted fungicides. Water deeply but less frequently for strong root growth.
Implementing a Year-Round Lawn Care Timeline
Follow a targeted care routine to maintain a picture-perfect lawn throughout the seasons. Create a fall landscaping checklist that includes tasks such as aeration, overseeding, and fertilization. These steps help your lawn recover from summer stress and prepare it for winter dormancy. Think about bookmarking the TOH lawn care timeline to keep track of the tasks that help your turf stay healthy and vibrant throughout the year.
Strategic Pruning in Last Summer
Proper pruning enhances the health and appearance of your plants. Late summer is a great time to shape your landscape and promote vigorous growth.
Mastering Essential Pruning Techniques
Learning basic pruning techniques can improve the health and appearance of your plants. Unfortunately, homeowners often neglect pruning. “But pruning isn’t difficult,” says This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook. “And what you get in return is thicker foliage, more flowers, and healthier plants.”
Start by removing dead, damaged, or diseased branches. Then, focus on shaping the plant by cutting back overgrown areas and encouraging a balanced structure. Use clean, sharp tools at a 45-degree angle just above the leaf node or bud.
Timing Your Pruning
Different plants require pruning at specific times for the best results. According to Cook, the best time for division is either in early spring, as soon as new growth is visible above the ground, or in the fall after blooming is done.
In late summer, focus on pruning spring-flowering shrubs that have finished blooming. For perennials, consider dividing and transplanting overgrown clumps to rejuvenate them and fill in the bare spots in your garden.
Late-Summer Bloomers
Incorporate late-summer flowering plants to extend the beauty of your garden well into fall. These colorful additions will breathe new life into your landscape as other plants begin to fade.
Choose plants that thrive in the warm days and cool nights of late summer. Here are some options:
- Black-eyed Susans: These perennials are known for their bright yellow petals and dark brown centers.
- Coneflowers: Coneflowers have daisy-like flowers with prominent, spiky central cones and come in colors like purple, pink, and white.
- Sedum: Often referred to as “stonecrop,” Sedums are succulent plants with fleshy leaves and star-shaped flowers. They come in various sizes and colors, including green, pink, and red.
- Russian Sage: Russian Sage has airy spikes of lavender-blue flowers and finely cut, aromatic foliage.
- Asters: Asters are known for their daisy-like flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink, and white
Seeding Techniques for a Beautiful Spring Lawn
Fall is the ideal time to seed your lawn for lush spring growth. “Seeding is the easiest thing for a homeowner to do,” says Cook. “It just takes a little soil preparation, the right mix of seed, and lots of watering.”
Choose a grass seed mix appropriate for your climate and sun exposure. Prepare the soil by raking and removing debris, then spread the seed evenly. Water lightly but often to keep the soil moist until germination occurs. Protect newly seeded areas from foot traffic and birds with a light layer of straw.
Take Steps To Help the Environment Before Summer Ends
Late summer is the perfect time to lay the groundwork for an eco- and wildlife-friendly lawn and garden in the coming seasons. By taking proactive steps now, you’ll set yourself up for success in spring.
Starting a Compost Pile for Future Garden Health
Turn yard waste into valuable organic matter by starting a compost pile. Layer green materials (grass clippings, kitchen scraps) with brown materials (dry leaves, small twigs) in a 3:1 ratio. Keep the pile moist and turn it regularly to speed up decomposition. By spring, you’ll have nutrient-rich compost to nourish your garden beds and lawns—for free.
Creating a Bird-Friendly Environment
Creating a wildlife-friendly habitat supports local ecosystems and adds life and interest to your landscape. Provide food, water, and shelter to attract a variety of birds to your yard. Install bird feeders with different types of seed to attract various species. Add a birdbath for a water source, keeping it clean and filled. Plant shade trees and shrubs that offer shelter and nesting sites for birds.
Encouraging Helpful Insects in Your Garden
Beneficial insects like bees, butterflies, and ladybugs help with pollination and pest control. Plant a diverse range of native flowers to provide nectar and pollen throughout the growing season. Create insect habitats by leaving some areas of your yard slightly wild, with leaf litter and bare soil patches.
Budget-Friendly Yard Upgrade Ideas for Late Summer
Transforming your yard doesn’t have to break the bank. With creativity and some DIY spirit, you can make improvements on a budget.
DIY Landscaping Projects
Take on simple projects to enhance your yard’s appearance. Create defined garden edges using inexpensive materials like bricks or stones. Build raised beds for vegetable or flower gardens using reclaimed wood. Paint old planters or furniture to give them new life and add pops of color to your outdoor space.
Upcycling Garden Decor
Give new life to old items by repurposing them as garden decor. Turn an old ladder into a vertical planter, use vintage watering cans as flower containers, or create a unique trellis from salvaged materials. These upcycled elements add character and charm to your landscape but still keep costs low.
Transitioning Your Garden from Summer to Fall
As summer fades, you can prepare your garden for the cooler months ahead while maintaining its beauty.
Planting Fall-Blooming Flowers
Extend your garden’s color into autumn by planting fall-blooming perennials and annuals. Adding chrysanthemums, pansies, and ornamental kale adds vibrant late-season color. Plant these now to allow them time to establish before cooler weather arrives.
Preparing Garden Beds for Cooler Weather
“I don’t know why people don’t do more yard work in September,” says Cook. “Fall is the absolute best time to get things done, and it gives you a head start on spring.”
Clean up garden beds by removing spent annuals and cutting back perennials that have finished blooming. Add a layer of compost to nourish the soil and protect plant roots. Plant spring-flowering bulbs now for a colorful display next year. Think about adding a layer of mulch to insulate plants and suppress weed growth.
Cozy Elements for Large Yards
Large yards offer plenty of space for creativity, but they can sometimes feel overwhelming. Create intimate spaces within your expansive landscape to make it more inviting for summer and fall entertaining.
Creating Intimate Seating Areas
Divide your large yard into smaller “rooms” using landscaping elements like hedges, pergolas, or decorative screens. Create cozy seating areas with comfortable outdoor furniture arranged to encourage conversation. Add an outdoor rug and throw pillows to define the space and make it feel more like an outdoor living room.
Incorporating Landscape Lighting
Use lighting to create ambiance and extend the usability of your outdoor spaces into the late-summer evenings. Install path lights to guide visitors through your yard safely. Use uplighting to highlight trees or architectural features. Add string lights or lanterns to seating areas for a warm, inviting glow.