Mid-Summer Garden Checklist

Keeping Your Alberta Garden Thriving Through the Heat

We’ve hit the heart of summer, and Alberta gardens are in full bloom—or, for veggie growers, bursting with early harvests! But don’t let the lushness fool you: mid-summer is a crucial time to keep your garden happy, hydrated, and under control.

Whether you’re tending flowers, vegetables, or a mix of both, here’s your go-to checklist to keep things flourishing right through August and beyond.

Mid-Summer Garden To-Do List

1. Deadhead Spent Flowers

Remove faded or dead blooms from annuals and perennials to encourage more flowering and redirect energy to healthy growth. Great candidates: petunias, geraniums, coneflowers, and marigolds.

2. Adjust Watering Schedules

Deep, less frequent watering promotes stronger root systems. Early morning is ideal to avoid evaporation. Remember: containers and raised beds dry out faster than in-ground gardens.

3. Harvest Early Crops

Now’s the time to harvest:

• Lettuce, spinach, and radishes
• Peas and beans
• Garlic and early onions
  Don’t forget to reseed if you’re aiming for a fall crop!

4. Mulch for Moisture

Replenish mulch around plants to conserve water, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Use straw, wood chips, or even grass clippings.

5. Monitor for Pests & Disease

Check the undersides of leaves for aphids, slugs, powdery mildew, and other mid-season threats. Catching issues early means fewer problems later.

6. Support Tall Growers

Stake or cage tomatoes, beans, and taller flowers like hollyhocks and delphiniums before they flop from weight or summer winds.

7. Plant for Fall

Now’s the perfect time to start:

• Kale
• Swiss chard
• Beets
• Carrots

They’ll thrive in cooler temperatures and provide a second harvest.