Late Summer Gardening Burnout
Embracing Late Summer in the Garden and Overcoming Garden Burnout
As the days start to shorten and the intense heat of summer begins to wane, late summer offers a unique and often overlooked period in the gardening calendar.
It’s a time when your garden can truly shine, with late-blooming perennials, color-packed annuals, and the first hints of Fall foliage creating a beautiful tapestry of color and texture. (I see leaves turning red on my Dogwoods!)
However, it’s also a time when many gardeners can experience burnout, feeling overwhelmed by the demands of maintaining their garden through the hottest months.
For me, the damage done by a long heat wave can be so discouraging. A heat wave can cause many plants to try to go to seed faster which makes for a shorter bloom time unless you keep up with deadheading.
Keep Your Flowers Blooming Longer
Here’s how to embrace late summer in your garden while keeping burnout at bay or overcoming it.
1. Savor the Beauty of Late-Blooming Plants
Celebrate Late-Bloomers:
Plants like rudbeckia, echinacea, sedum, and Russian sage (Perovskia) are at their peak in late summer. Roses get a second wind and push out another flush of blooms.
Their bright colors and interesting shapes can revitalize your garden, offering a fresh perspective and a burst of energy just when you need it most. I love the silvery foliage of the Perovskia
Incorporate Grasses:
Ornamental grasses like miscanthus, panicum, and pennisetum add movement and texture to your garden.
As they begin to plume, they catch the light beautifully, creating a dynamic backdrop for late-season flowers.
2. Practice Mindful Maintenance
Simplify Your Routine:
Instead of spending hours on intensive maintenance, focus on smaller, manageable tasks. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage new growth, but don’t stress over every detail. A garden is meant to be enjoyed, not a source of stress.
Mulch Wisely:
Applying a fresh layer of mulch not only helps retain moisture during the hot days of late summer but also reduces the need for weeding. This can significantly cut down on the amount of time you need to spend on maintenance.
15+ Types of Garden Mulch
3. Refresh Your Garden Spaces
Add Pops of Color:
Late-season annuals like zinnias, marigolds, and cosmos can be planted now to fill in any gaps and add a burst of color. These low-maintenance plants thrive in the heat and will keep your garden looking fresh.
Consider Container Gardening:
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the larger garden, switch your focus to containers. They require less maintenance and can be easily moved to highlight the best spots in your garden.
I like to have pots I have seeded earlier in the season ready to plop into bare spaces created when other flowers have faded and are done. This is an easy way to have fresh blooms in an otherwise barren-looking spot.
4. Prepare for the Fall Transition
Plant Fall Crops:
Start thinking about your fall garden now. Vegetables like kale, spinach, lettuce, and radishes can be sown in late summer for a fall harvest.
The act of planning and planting something new can reinvigorate your enthusiasm for gardening.
Tidy Up Strategically:
Rather than trying to tackle the entire garden, focus on areas that will soon be transitioning to fall.
Trim back overgrown perennials, remove any plants that are past their prime, and start thinking about how you want your garden to look as the seasons change.
5. Combat Garden Burnout
Pace Yourself:
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when there’s so much to do. The kids may have gone back to school and that brings with it more activities and appointments.
Break tasks into smaller, more manageable steps and spread them out over several days or weeks.
I like to take breaks from my desk throughout the day and I will tackle a small 4′ by 4′ area. I focus on that spot for 10 to 20 minutes, whether its weeding, deadheading, or adding more mulch. Then I go back to work.
It is amazing what you can get done in that amount and how it adds up. Every time you see that space that has been spruced up it gives you the boost to keep on.
Take Breaks:
Don’t forget to step back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Set aside time to simply sit in your garden with a cool drink, listen to the sounds of nature, and appreciate the beauty around you.
This is where adding seating to your garden space comes in handy. Always make space in your garden for somewhere to sit and just enjoy.
Ask for Help:
If you’re feeling particularly burned out, it’s okay to ask for help. Whether it’s enlisting family members to assist with weeding or hiring a professional for a one-time cleanup, delegating tasks can provide much-needed relief.
I have some handy teenage nephews that are wonderful workers, it is amazing how much more I can get done when I enlist their help. Usually, a pizza dinner is reward enough but they would do it for free if I needed.
Embrace Imperfection:
Gardens are living, ever-changing spaces, and it’s important to remember that perfection isn’t the goal. Embrace the imperfections and view them as part of the natural beauty of your garden.
I am often preaching that over on my YouTube channel. Perfection is overrated and can only be attained if you have a budget to hire landscapers on a regular basis.
Keep it real and learn to enjoy the journey. This is about the love of plants and gardening, not a showpiece garden.
6. Visit Public Gardens for Inspiration
Seek Fresh Ideas:
When you’re feeling uninspired or garden fatigued, a visit to a public garden can provide a refreshing change of scenery and spark new ideas.
Observing how these gardens handle late summer blooms, plant combinations, and seasonal transitions can offer fresh perspectives on your own space.
You might discover new plants, fresh unique design elements, or creative solutions for common gardening challenges. Plus, immersing yourself in a beautifully curated garden can rekindle your passion and remind you of the joys that brought you to gardening in the first place.
I visited Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC this late August and it was the boost I needed. Seeing all the gorgeous flower beds and flower color combinations was exactly the invigoration I needed to get back to enjoying my garden.
I couldn’t wait to be able to implement them in my space and plan for next summer.
So what have we discovered? Late summer is a time of transition, both in the garden and for the gardener. By focusing on the beauty of the season, simplifying your maintenance routine, and taking steps to combat garden fatigue, you can continue to enjoy your garden without feeling overwhelmed.
Mentally take note of what you would like to do next year to keep things simple throughout the entire season and avoid the burnout that can creep in. Jot down ideas as you start to organize for the following growing season. It is so easy to forget over the long winter months.
Do you need to add extra mulch in an area to prevent weeds from creeping in? Or maybe add a ground cover that will do the same job? Little things like that can go far in keeping up.
Great Ground Covers To Use Instead of Mulch
I highly recommend photographing and videoing your garden each week or so through the summer to see how it changes and what you can implement and when.
I can say this year I kept a video journal of my garden each week and it is helping me to keep track much better than relying on my memory. I intend to rewatch the videos during the depths of winter to plot out a more organized and efficient approach to my gardens.
Remember, gardening is a journey, not a race, and late summer is the perfect time to slow down, savor the moment, and reconnect with the joys of your outdoor space.