For many gardeners the month of August begins the last leg of the summer growing season.  Now that summer’s heat has passed for the most part, there are quite a few tasks that can be done to prolong this year’s flower and vegetable bounty.  There are also a number of things that can be done now to get a head start on next year growing season.  Here is a to-do list that will help you get ready for fall and even next spring:

• Seed fall crops of leaf lettuce, spinach, and other cold weather crops.
• Keep harvesting.  There’s always something to make with zucchini!
• Pick herbs for fresh use and for drying.  Harvesting will promote new growth.
• Order spring bulbs for planting and cold forcing (more on that to come in a later issue).
• Check to see how much of your mulch has decomposed and add more if needed.
• Spread a mid-season layer of compost.
• Keep deadheading!  Summer’s not over yet.
• Start collecting and saving seeds.
• Remove any diseased foliage from trees and shrubs so they don’t get lost in fall leaves.
• Take pictures of your garden and container combinations to help plan for next year.
• Make sure your cold frame is ready to go.
• Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials now so they can take root by winter.  Be sure to keep them well watered.
• Plant a spring crop of garlic.