August/September Member Announcement

August/September Member Announcement: Harvesting Late-Summer Beauty & Preparing for Fall Planting.

As late summer reaches its peak in August and transitions into the crisp days of September, the gardening season enters one of its most strategic and rewarding chapters. While August brings high heat to many regions, early fall is right around the corner—and in the gardening world, fall is prime time for planting!

Warm late-summer soil combined with cooler autumn air creates the ideal environment for trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers to build strong, deep root systems without the stress of intense summer sun. Whether you are protecting your landscape through the final heat waves or preparing to get new additions in the ground, August and September offer the perfect window to refresh your garden and set up explosive growth for next spring.

August & September Garden Checklist (Zones 3–9)

Essential care for trees, shrubs, perennials, groundcovers & evergreens

Zones 3–4: Early-Fall Window & Frost Readiness

🌿 Plant Early for Root Settlement: Get new trees, shrubs, and hardy perennials in the ground by late August through mid-September so their root systems can settle before the soil freezes.
🌿 Cease Heavy Nitrogen Feeding: Stop applying high-nitrogen fertilizers to perennials and woody plants so they can naturally harden off for winter rather than pushing tender new growth.
🌿 Tuck In Beds with Fresh Mulch: Top off mulch rings around new and established root zones to insulate soil against rapid temperature swings as chilly nights arrive.

Zones 5–6: The Classic Fall Transition & Lawn Renewal

🌿 Divide Spring & Summer Perennials: Early autumn is the ideal time to dig, divide, and replant overgrown perennials like hostas, daylilies, irises, and sedum.
🌿 Capitalize on the Fall Planting Window: Take full advantage of September to plant bare-root and container trees, shrubs, and groundcovers.
🌿 Lawn Care & Overseeding: Early September is the ideal time to aerate, overseed, and nourish cool-season lawns (like fescue, bluegrass, and ryegrass) while soil temperatures are warm.

Zones 7–8: Late-Summer Moisture & Early-Fall Power Planting

🌿 Maintain Deep Watering Habits: High temperatures mean rapid evaporation. Continue deep, slow soakings early in the morning at the root zone rather than shallow surface sprays.
🌿 Refresh Landscape Beds: As summer blooms fade, deadhead perennials and prune away dead or damaged branches on shrubs to keep your beds looking neat.
🌿 Kick Off Fall Landscaping: As September temperatures soften, begin planting shade trees, evergreen hedges, flowering shrubs, and spring-flowering bulbs.

Zone 9: The Second Prime Growing Season Begins

🌿 Launch Your Autumn Garden: In warm southern and coastal regions, late August and September mark the start of your second primary planting season!
🌿 Start Cool-Season Crops & Perennials: Sow seeds for brassicas, leafy greens, root vegetables, and plant fall-blooming perennials and heat-tolerant evergreens.
🌿 Protect New Transplants: Provide temporary shade cloth or afternoon protection for young transplants during late August heat spikes until they establish.

👉 [Explore Fall Pre-Orders & August/September Plant Collections]

Taking time to care for your soil and add permanent structure to your landscape now will pay off tenfold when spring arrives. As always, Cheryl, Steve, and the entire Greenwood Nursery team are here to help you choose the best varieties for your specific hardiness zone.

Wishing You a Bountiful & Refreshing Fall Planting Season,

Cheryl, Steve & The Greenwood Nursery Team

“Let’s grow this together.” 🌿