“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein
Just in case you missed it, summer is fading away.
Turning a new calendar page or the ringing of school bells may be classic indicators, but it’s nature that confirms the end of summer.
Late afternoon “V” formations of honking Canada geese (Branta Canadensis) and intermittent piercing shrills of katydids (Tettigoniidae) also suggest summer is winding down.
The sun is setting earlier as the weeks go by. This sends a clear signal that the days will only get cooler and shorter.
Sept. 22 is the official date of the fall equinox or the first day of autumn.
On this day, the number of daylight hours is equal to the night hours, approximately 12 hours each.
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, “the word equinox comes from the Latin [meaning] equal night. The fall and spring equinoxes are the only days of the year in which the Sun crosses the celestial equator”.
Gardeners should take note that our four seasons are determined by the movement of the sun and not the heat of day.
Remember public school science – the solar system. Our planet rotates on its axis while orbiting the Sun.
As the fall season progresses the amount of valuable sunlight diminishes.
Obviously, with this reduced amount of sunlight, garden plants begin to transform from the summer to the fall season.
As the amount of sunshine decreases so does the amount of chlorophyll plants will be able to make. During the photosynthesis process, chlorophyll brings energy (food) to the plant.
Other classic signals that pinpoint waning of summer are the mature pods of the milkweed (Asclepias L.) and the yearly migration of the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus).
Milkweed is essential to the Monarch. It is the only plant where it will lay its eggs in the spring, as the larvae (caterpillar) will only eat the milkweed.
Here are a few suggestions to keep your garden looking fresh throughout the fall season.
All plants go to seed, regardless if they are from the flower garden, vegetable patch or just common weeds.
It’s a natural thing to do as seeds are required for the next growing season (spring).
But to keep this year’s early blooming perennials and annuals looking great, simply deadhead (remove) all faded or tired looking blossoms by clipping them.
Deadheading may encourage a second flush or blooming session. All annuals that look tired should have their spent blossoms pinched off.
Perennials that grow on a single stem such as lupine (Lupinus), foxglove (Digitalis), delphinium, shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), speedwell (Veronica), blanket flower (Gaillardia), false sunflower (Heliopsis), garden phlox (Phlox paniculata), geum, hardy begonia (Begonia grandis), Jupiter’s beard (Centranthus ruber), lavender (Lavandula), globe thistle (Echinops), bee balm (Monarda), monkshood (Aconitum), pincushion flower (Scabiosa), purple toadflax (Linaria), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) and hollyhock (Alcea) will flower again if the main stalk is pruned.
Carefully cut above the top side shoots of the plant. This will rejuvenate and flower later in the season.
Always leave any remaining foliage intact. The plant’s leaves are necessary to continue to produce energy.
Often, by late summer, some early-blooming perennials and some annuals have flopped over, looking very unkempt and crowded. An overall tidying up is in order.
Prune any damaged or overgrown foliage. There still lots of time for all plants to reset themselves and grow into showy specimens.
Remove misshaped or insect eaten foliage and cut back excess growth.
Water is the lifeblood of all plants, especially trees. Full-grown trees require buckets of water. Consider the size and their need for moisture. It is especially important to deeply water in the morning. This will prevent as much evaporation as possible.
The garden will be slowly running out of energy after the final summer flush. It will soon be time to start preparing for the next season.
For many gardeners, September is the start of one of their favourite times in the garden.
Gardening becomes more relaxed with less urgent times to complete required tasks, as many plants will have simply stop growing.
Cooler temperatures mean that plants do not require the same amount of time-consuming watering. Constant deadheading will not be a concern. A variety of new jobs waits as the season progresses into later fall.
Ron Stevenson is a member of the Fergus Horticultural Society.
