The Late Summer Garden: Make Your Effort Count

This is the first in a three-part series on late summer garden problems. So many words are expended on spring planting, when gardeners are already full of plans and optimism. I think folks need inspiration more after their plans and optimism have been subjected to aphids, weeds, drought, and just plain life.

By August, things can get confusing in the garden. Here's how to bring it into focus, accomplish the key tasks, and move on.

First, take a minute to just enjoy being in your garden. 
Now, take a look at what is actually happening out there in the jungle. Make a list, or a drawing, or a phone memo or whatever is easy for you. Think about what you've been eating out of the garden and what you enjoy about it. Sort things into 6 categories:

1. Things you are harvesting and enjoying, or that are nearing harvest and look pretty good.​
2. Things that have done well, but are fading a bit--zucchini that is slacking off and getting mildew for example. Or chard that is looking puny, tomatoes with blossom end rot, scruffy pole beans with some weird leaf issue.......
3. Things that are pretty much finished--bush beans with just a few wizened beans left, or bolting lettuce.
4. Things that never really did much or you didn't like.
5. Things that are out of hand and making you feel guilty.
6. Empty spots where you harvested and didn't replant. 

Now you already have a plan:  numbers 3, 4, 5,and 6 are where your fall garden going to be.  (Or cover crops, or mulch.)

Number 1 is doing okay and might just need some compost one of these days.

Number 2 is where you concentrate your efforts. This is the part of the garden that will fail without help, but is in good enough shape that your help won't be in vain.

Let's deal with zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 first. If the combined area is small, pull everything out. Or get out the hoe and take it down. Then, either plant fall crops there right now, or cover it up until you can plant. (use a tarp, mulch, cardboard, plywood, bedspread--anything to keep weeds from undoing your work.)

If your renewal zone is larger and out of hand and you don't have time to deal with it, you can use a string trimmer (weedeater, etc) to mow it all down. Failing that, stomp it down with your feet. You can flatten more area quickly if you use a piece of lumber, metal fencepost, plywood, or other hard, stiff object. Put a rope on each end and use the ropes to lift and move the weight forward. Then step on it to crush the plants beneath. Repeat your way across the area. Then water well, and put down cardboard or a tarp or whatever opaque cover you have. Black plastic sheeting works well and can be reused for several years. In a month the area will be composted and ready for your fall transplants or your cover crop seed. Keeping it covered not only kills the weeds, it allows the worms to come to the surface and eat them. They will also fluff the soil up for you.

The stomping and covering shouldn't take too long, once you have located the cardboard, mulch, or tarp. And trust me, it will make you feel great.

Start some seeds in pots, flats, or old containers of some kind, and you have a fall garden on the way.