With days growing shorter and crisp autumn weather just around the corner, there’s no better time to get started on end-of-summer gardening tasks to prepare your garden for a fall harvest.
Even if planting cool-season crops isn’t on your radar, late August to early September is the ideal time to tidy up your garden for the cooler months. You’ll have less to do once spring rolls around!
Whether you’re gearing up for fall planting or want to focus your efforts on cleaning up old blooms, here are the major end-of-summer gardening tasks you should start now.
1. Sow Cool-Season Crops
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End of summer is an excellent planting window for most parts of the country, especially for a bountiful fall harvest. “Sow vegetables like kale, spinach, lettuce, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, turnips, carrots and parsnips,” says farm consultant Luke Hammond of Seedtime.
These crops thrive in cooler temperatures, and some, like carrots, even sweeten after a light frost.
“Prepare your soil by removing summer crop residues and adding compost or aged manure to replenish nutrients,” Hammond says. “Water deeply after planting and consider using row covers to protect seedlings from late-summer heat or early frost.”
2. Apply a Fresh Layer of Mulch
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A fresh layer of mulch applied to garden beds in late summer or early fall can help insulate plant roots, retain moisture and suppress pesky weed seeds that germinate in cooler weather.
“Organic mulches like shredded leaves, bark or straw break down over time, enriching the soil,” Hammond says. “Apply 2-4 inches around perennials and shrubs, keeping mulch a few inches away from stems to prevent rot.”
3. Choose a Cover Crop
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While planting cover crops isn’t always necessary, adding crimson clover, winter rye and other legumes to empty garden beds can protect soil from erosion and compaction from winter snow.
“These green manures add organic matter and fix nitrogen,” Hammond explains. “They help enhance fertility when turned into the soil in spring.”
4. Clean and Store Tools
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While it may be easier to simply throw garden tools into a shed and call it a day, cleaning and storing tools properly can help extend their lifespan and also keep them safe for future crops.
“Dirty or rusty tools can harbor pests and pathogens that carry over into the next season,” Hammond says. “Clean off soil and sap with a wire brush or steel wool, sharpen blades and oil metal parts to prevent rust. Disinfect tools between uses using a 10% bleach solution or rubbing alcohol.”
5. Let Your Lawn Recover
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Trusted Landscaper owner Marcin Ptak says lawns can take a beating over the summer.
“By the end of August, they’re exhausted,” he says. “Give your grass the recovery it needs by cutting it with the mower blades one notch higher than normal.” Then, go over grass with a rigorous rake to pull out any dead grass from its base and finish by spiking it with a garden fork.
“This de-thatching and aerating is the secret to a lawn that comes back like green carpet in the spring,” Ptak explains.
6. Plant Perennials, Trees and Shrubs
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Costa Farms horticulturist Justin Hancock is a big fan of planting perennials, trees and shrubs in early fall. This includes coneflowers and hydrangeas.
“Planting now allows them to get rooted in and established so they’re ready to explode with growth the following spring,” he explains. “Plus, many garden centers put their plants on sale at the end of the season, so you can often find some good deals.”
Be sure to keep any new plants well-watered and lay down a thick layer of mulch to help them retain moisture.
7. Remove Weeds
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“Deal with them now to keep your garden looking cared-for,” Ptak says. “An old kitchen knife or a block paving scraper will do the job.”
While hand-pulling is always your best bet, you can also use a spot treatment of weedkiller for particularly stubborn weeds. Now is also the time to clean up any diseased or spent plants that invite pests and fungus in damp fall weather (just be sure to wear gloves while handling).
8. Deadhead Summer Blooms
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Summer flowers in full bloom can be deadheaded for additional blooms lasting well into the fall. Simply use sharp floral shears and make a clean cut above the next healthy set of leaves.
“If you have roses, dahlias or zinnias still hanging on, snipping off the faded flowers will help redirect the plant’s energy,” says Bouquet Box founder Courtney Sixx. “It stops them from going to seed and encourages a final burst of color before fall truly settles in.”
9. Plant Spring Bulbs
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In late August and early September, soil is usually still warm and easy to work with, making it ideal for planting spring bulbs like daffodils, crocuses and alliums. Planting them now ensures they have enough time to settle in and take root.
“This is your chance to layer in a whole new season of color to look forward to over the winter,” Ptak says.
10. Feed Your Garden One Last Time
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Your plants have worked hard all summer, Sixx says. Therefore, they deserve a slow-release fertilizer applied in early September to help them store nutrients and strengthen roots for winter.
“I always focus on perennials and shrubs using an organic mix that’s low in nitrogen but rich in potassium and phosphorus,” she continues. “Think of it like a warm, nourishing meal before a long rest.”
Completing these core gardening tasks now is truly worth it: you will be rewarded with healthier plants, a more bountiful harvest, a greener lawn, and spectacular blooms come next spring.
Related: How to Prepare Your Garden for Winter (9 Dos and Don’ts!)
This story was originally reported by Dengarden on Aug 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the Gardening section. Add Dengarden as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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