We all know that Labor Day Weekend is a great time to hit deals on furniture, clothing and white sales, but did you know it’s also great weekend for gardening deals as well? Local nurseries need to clear out all their inventory for summer and bring in all of those fall plants, so now is the time to grab them up. Especially if you’re looking for big ticket items like trees, a lot of bushes or even items like a new lawn mover (Sears is advertising 25% off or more on lawn mowers and Home Depot has $100 off al riding mowers.) 

It’s also a good time to plant. The ground is still warm yet the air isn’t too cool either and that makes fall ideal (and most of you thought spring, huh?) The ideal time for fall planting is six weeks before the first hard frost for those who live in colder climates. Plants, especially turf grasses, perennials, evergreen, deciduous trees and shrubs, love fall planting because the still warm soil encourages the roots to grow, while planting in the spring the ground is still cool. In areas with mild winters, those roots will continue to grow, and in colder regions, those roots will grow until the ground freezes. Plant now and those roots will be well established through spring and summer when heat and drought become a factor. 

Looking for some patio furniture to make some of those outdoor areas living areas? Buy them now and enjoy them in the still warm September weather while these sales are going on in outdoor furniture too. A lovely little bistro table and chairs, or a bench tucked under a tree makes for nice landscaping too. Next spring when the weather warms up again, you’ll be glad you bought those items now and saved. 

Another tip for you fall gardeners – Chrysanthemums or ‘Mums’ are in now for planting. These easy to grow plants can give your garden another burst of color from now through October when most of your other summer flowers have begun to fade. Mums come in every color except blue and remember to plant them in full sun so these beauties will reach their maximum bloom. I happen to love the spider  and daisy varieties and plant them in containers on my front door steps. Leave the dead tops of your mums standing in the winter (they’ll winter better.) And remember in the spring to “pinch” back your garden mums as soon as the new growth is 4-6 inches tall.  Thsi will in encourage branching and development of compact bushy plants. Just use your thumb and index finger to pinch.