10 Summer Gardening Tips to Prolong Flowers and Plants

It’s that time of year when our gardens have put on their best show, produced their crops, and are now slowly fading away for the season. You can extend the gardening season and get the most out of your plantings with these ten simple gardening tips and suggestions to prolong the life of flowers and plants. A little effort goes a long way, and what better way to spend the remainder of this lazy summer than enjoying the fruits of your labor for a few more weeks. As the old saying goes: “One who plants a garden, plants happiness.”

10 Summer Gardening Tips to Prolong the Life of Flowers and Plants

1. Deadhead gradually — as you see flowers wilt and die, nip them off. A little here and there is less tedious then tackling it all at once. Save the deadheaded plants and seeds to begin drying for next year’s planting.
2. Donate surplus veggies to local homeless shelters and soup kitchens. Donate flowers in mason jar vases as well if you have extra. Everyone deserves to experience the joy of a pretty bouquet.
3. Remove yellowing, dead and dying leaves and vines from veggies. This will allow any new growth to be directly distributed to the living parts of the plant.
4. Sprinkle nutrient-rich topsoil with compost around flowers and plants for a mid-summer boost.
5. Redistribute leftover mulch in bare areas to freshen up the landscape.
6. Stage pots of new bloomers throughout perennial gardens that are past peak to add new life to the garden.
7. Create a garden focal point or centerpiece by placing a wheel barrow or whiskey barrel planter full of colorful annuals in the middle of a past peak perennial garden area.
8. Water only plants that need water at this point in the season. Do not waste time and water on anything that has gone by.
9. Keep a garden journal and take notes on this year’s garden success and failures while it is still fresh in your mind. Sketch out garden plans for next year and make notes of the climate, conditions, and soil.
10. Finally, take ample time to relax in your garden and enjoy the fruits of your labor while the weather is still beautiful.

This post was first published in 2012 and has been updated.