What late summer can tell you about your garden

I was standing in my garden in the morning in my blue fuzzy bathrobe, coffee in hand, eyeballing the crispy edges on plants that were thriving in June.

Honestly, every year, it kind of shocks me how 'scorched earth' parts of the garden can look during late summer.

I call it the 'August exhaustion' garden phase.

Not much is blooming, things are a little (or a lot) brown and straggly.

Most people write this stretch off. Nothing much to see here. 👀

Sometimes it seems easier to look the other way until the next season, but I'd argue the opposite.

How your garden presents during August gives you excellent insight into where your garden design may be a tad thin. (The only better time is scrutinizing your bare-bones garden during the dead of winter.)

In spring and early summer, lush growth and heavy bloom can hide a lot of "garden truths".

A gap between shrubs is covered by an annual or perennial doing overtime. An awkward line gets softened by everything filling in at once.

Yes indeedy, that spring and early summer abundance is forgiving. Late summer heat and drought stress? Not so much.

Whatever's still doing its job right now is probably doing it on structure, not on a few weeks of good bloom. Although there are certainly exceptions: I'm looking at catmint, gaura, crape myrtle, oleander for example.

So this month, take ten minutes and walk your beds with a few questions in mind (clipboard optional).

Where does your eye land first?

Unfortunately, during August exhaustion, the brownest, rangiest parts may be drawing the eye first.

Where does the bed lose its shape or structure? Look for areas that felt full earlier in the season but now seem flat, undefined, or straight up empty.

What still looks good despite the heat? Is it strong plant structure, repetition, foliage, late-summer flowers that keep on giving? Make a note of your late summer workhorses and give them a gold star. ⭐

So take advantage of the August exhaustion. What you notice now can tell you a lot about what your garden actually needs. A few well-considered design changes could make a big difference.

— Tina

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