Here in Northern Wisconsin the summer seems to fly by.  We love our flowers and vegetable gardens. Try these tips to keep your gardens growing and looking great as the summer moves toward fall.

Raise the setting on your lawn mower. In hot weather, the longer grass blades shade and protect sensitive crowns from heat and drying. Mow bluegrass no shorter than 2½ to 3 inches.

 Water garden plants from the bottom, if at all possible. Overhead watering is more likely to result in disease problems, particularly if you must water in the evening when plants dry slowly.

To keep annuals and perennials blooming longer, remove flowers as they fade, before seeds mature. Seed production uses lots of energy; plant growth often slows after seeds ripen.

Begin leaf spot control on tomatoes at the first sign of disease. Remove and destroy infected plant parts.

Pick flowers for bouquets (and garnish) in the cool of the morning, before they're fully open.

Allow tomatoes to vine ripen for best flavor. If you must pick them partially ripe, ripen them out of direct sunlight. Refrigerating tomatoes interrupts and limits their flavor and development.

Harvest fruits and vegetables regularly to prevent their rotting and attracting beetles or wasps.

Divide and transplant iris, peonies, and oriental poppies the latter part of August. Perennials that bloom mid to late summer are usually divided in spring.

Plant flowering kale and cabbage, pansies, and dianthus to provide fall color long past the first frost.

Hardy garden mums become available in August. Their wide array of colors bring a fresh look to your late summer garden. 

It's always amazing how fast the summer flies by. Soon fall will be here with a new palette of colors and a new list of garden chores.