Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up September: The Changing Garden

Welcome!

As days with clear blue skies and temperatures in the 70's continue, fall is just around the corner as I gaze into the garden. As the seasons change so does the landscape, with much anticipation for the colorful display to arrive. Hopefully the time will not pass by too quickly, as for right now this gardener is living in the moment. Welcome to my zone 7b Long Island garden. Join me for a tour!

Patio Garden: Weeping Norway Spruce and Sedum 'Pure Joy'

One of the major signs of autumn arriving in the garden is the appearance of Sedum blooms. This late summer blooming cultivar is Sedum 'Pure Joy', which tends to stay at a more more compact height of just twelve inches tall. It is accompanied by Weeping Norway Spruce.

Another View of the Patio Garden

Viewing the patio garden from another angle,  here is Juniper 'Blue Star' and Nandina 'Obsession' joining the spruce and sedum. This variety of Nandina is a dwarf evergreen, non-invasive cultivar, which does not produce berries or seeds; hence, safe for birds.

Liriope 'Big Blue'

Along the shade border, Liriope 'Big Blue' is showing off its deep purple blooms this time of year. 

Pool Border

Here is Sedum 'Thundercloud', which I bought years ago at the local nursery. It does resemble a cloud with its tight clusters of star-like white blooms.

Double Red Knock Out Rose Mid-September

Even though it is September, Double Red Knock Out Roses are blooming and will continue up until the first frost...

Ornamental Grasses & Sedum in Pool Border

while Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima' displays its wispy plumes, joined by Sedum 'Brilliant'.

Sedum 'Brilliant'

I had separated some Sedum and started new plants last summer and the newer plants have a deeper color pink bloom. They are both the same cultivar, but with a different look!

Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' Mid-September

Newly added this summer to the pool border is Nepeta 'Blue Wonder', a more compact variety of catmint, growing to just 9-12 inches tall by 12-18 inches wide, and with deeper blue blooms.

Patio Border Western Side

Along the patio border, Japanese Maple 'Trombly's Red Sentinel' has been pushing out new growth... 

Salvia 'Blue By You' Mid-September

and Salvia 'Blue By You' has been blooming since mid-May!

Iris Garden Renovation

I have shown this iris garden area every spring, which I had watched my mom plant when I was growing up. The once beautiful massing of iris had been taken over by wild ferns that had invaded the garden, and no matter how hard I tried to eliminate them, they would continue to persist. It took several years of contemplating, but I finally had my crew clear the area and plant these beautiful hydrangeas just two weeks ago. I think my mom would approve and think of her every time I look at them.

Hydrangea 'Fire Light Tidbit'

While the new Hydrangea 'Fire Light Tidbit' displays its beautiful panicle white blooms that will fade to pink, Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' is blooming along the patio border. It's colorful evergreen foliage is complemented by white tubular flowers.

Abelia 'Kalidoscope' Late Summer

The bumblebees are really enjoying the late summer blooms too!

Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry'

The Echinacea has been done blooming for some time and the Goldfinches have been enjoying the seeds, but just yesterday there were new blooms, so no complaints here! The garden always has surprises in store!

Heuchera 'Palace Purple' (Coral Bells)

As the summer winds down, Heuchera 'Palace Purple' in its planter continues to add some color to the patio area...

Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue' Mid-September

and the dried flowers of Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue' are just nice to look at.

Taking Time Out!

The newly added garden statue that is tucked in among Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and Heuchera 'Caramel' invites one to stay a while and perhaps read a book...

Dipladenia

as the deep pinkish-red blooms of Dipladenia continue to shine along the patio.

Front Lawn

As we come to the end of the tour, here's a little bit of those blue skies I mentioned when we started. The month of September certainly has its moments.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my September garden. I so appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and enjoy seeing what you have growing in your garden. Special thanks go out to our hostess Carol at May Dreams Gardens, who makes it possible to see blooms on the 15th of every month with her meme Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. Also, special thanks to Pam Penick at Digging who had hosted Foliage Follow-Up, a meme I will continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Nature Notes at Rambling Woods, Image-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday, Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden. See you next month and do check out my newsletter and books in the meantime! As always...Happy Gardening!

Sharing a Lifetime of Gardening with My Books! (Garden Design, Planning, Maintenance Tips and more!) - Makes a great gift too!

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations  

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener

Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2024. All rights reserved. 

Late Summer Gardening Chores and Maintenance

Welcome to This Month in the Garden!

As the days of summer begin to wane, late summer is a critical time for gardeners to prepare their spaces for the transition into fall. While the days are still warm, the subtle changes in light and temperature signal that it’s time to focus on garden maintenance. Here's a guide to essential late summer gardening chores to keep your garden healthy and vibrant as the seasons change.

Mophead Hydrangea

Deadheading and Pruning: Late summer is the perfect time to deadhead flowering plants. By removing spent flowers, you encourage perennials like salvia, daylilies, daisies, and zinnias to produce more blooms and extend their flowering period. Additionally, pruning back overgrown shrubs and perennials not only tidies up your garden but also promotes healthier growth. Be cautious with late pruning, though, as cutting too much can stimulate new growth that might not have time to harden off before the first frost. Be careful with pruning hydrangea as not to jeopardize next year's blooms. Only remove dead wood from the center of the plant and avoid cutting stems, as buds could already be forming on previous growth. The spent blooms can be removed, or enjoyed over the winter, and removed the following spring. If you desire deadheading, remove the dried flower head by cutting the stem just below it and just above the next set of leaves at an angle. The seed heads of perennials such as Echinacea (Coneflower) are a food source enjoyed by birds such as American Goldfinch and can also serve as interest until cutting back the plant later in fall. 

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Also, consider dividing and transplanting spring blooming perennials such as Daylilies and Iris that have outgrown their space. Dig up the parent plant with a spade and gently lift it above the ground. Remove any loose dirt from around the roots and separate the plant into smaller sections with a sharp clean spade or by gently pulling apart by hand. Each division should have three to five vigorous shoots and a decent sized rooting system. Dig the hole slightly larger than the plant, place level with the surrounding soil and maintain watering throughout the remainder of the season. Now is an excellent time as the temperatures cool and the timing allows for roots to establish before the first evenings of frost set in. A general rule of thumb is to divide spring blooming perennials in the late summer or early fall, and to divide late summer-fall blooming perennials in early springtime when new growth is emerging.

Daylily 'Stella D Oro' Late Summer

Watering: Even though temperatures may be slightly cooler, your garden still needs consistent watering. Late summer drought can stress plants, making them more susceptible to diseases and pests. Deep watering is essential to ensure roots remain hydrated. Continue watering until the first signs of frost are in the forecast.

Hydrangea Limelight Prime

Weeding: Weeds are notorious for thriving in late summer, often competing with your plants for nutrients and water. Regular weeding is crucial during this period to prevent them from going to seed and spreading further. Consider pulling weeds after a rain when the soil is moist, making the task easier.

Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz'

Pest and Disease Management & Feeding: Late summer can bring a host of pests and diseases that target weakened or stressed plants. Inspect your garden regularly for signs of trouble, such as yellowing leaves, holes in foliage, or powdery mildew. Depending on the issue, you may need to remove affected plants, apply organic pest control methods, or consider natural remedies like neem oil or insecticidal soaps. By late summer, many plants may have exhausted the nutrients in the soil. Fertilize your garden with a balanced organic fertilizer to give your plants a much-needed nutrient boost. Focus on perennials, shrubs, and late-blooming flowers that will benefit from the extra nourishment as they prepare for the colder months ahead. Keep enjoying the garden as roses, some species of hydrangea and rejuvenated perennials continue to shine, while later flowering perennials including Montauk Daisy, Mums and Asters prepare to display their late summer-fall blooms!

Montauk Daisy

Harvesting, Planting & Composting: Late summer is harvest time for many vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Be sure to pick produce as soon as it ripens to encourage continued production. At the same time, it’s an excellent opportunity to plant cool-season crops like kale, spinach, and radishes, which can thrive in the cooler temperatures of early fall. With an abundance of garden waste, late summer is a prime time to enhance your compost pile. Add grass clippings, pulled weeds (avoiding those with seeds), and spent annuals to your compost. Turn the pile regularly to speed up decomposition, ensuring you’ll have rich compost ready for next spring.

Keep Enjoying the Garden!

Late summer gardening is all about balance and nurturing your plants through the remaining warm days while preparing them for the cooler months ahead. By staying on top of these chores, you can keep your garden looking beautiful and healthy, setting the stage for a successful transition into fall. Whether you're deadheading blooms, mulching, or planting fall crops, the effort you put in now will pay off as your garden continues to flourish.

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden. Be sure to stop by on the 1st. and 15th. of each month as I continue to share gardening tips, information and horticultural adventures! 

 Plan your Garden with my Books! 

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening 

Landscape Design Combinations

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener 

Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

"As Always...Happy Gardening!" 

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2024. All rights reserved.