September’s almost here at Van Beek’s Garden Supplies and with it comes the unofficial end of summer.

(For the record, the actual end of summer/first day of fall is Friday, September 22).

In the next couple of weeks:

- Back to school will be in full swing

- The busy holiday season will start (Thanksgiving is around 6.5 weeks away)

- Outside temperatures will gradually get cooler

Which means you won’t have much time to work in your garden.

So before things get too hectic, make sure you take care of some small (but very important) end-of-summer landscaping jobs.

Sow some fresh grass seed

It’s still warm enough here in Oakville and Mississauga to seed (or reseed) your lawn with fresh grass seed.

Here’s what to do:

- Work and rotate the topsoil

- Spread the grass seed down as per its instructions

- Cover the area with straw, compost or mulch

- Follow a fall lawn care schedule of watering twice daily

The roots should start to grow quickly with grass filling in shortly thereafter. When this happens, reduce your watering schedule.

The benefit of doing this now: You’ll give your lawn a healthy head-start to survive the winter. Plus, it’ll look nicer, thicker and fuller once spring hits.

Spread one last layer of triple mix soil

Triple mix soil is an important and healthy combination of three important ingredients:

- Compost

- Sandy soil

- Black loam

Fresh soil delivery will give your garden or tree beds the vitamins and nutrients needed to get through the winter.

Here’s a question for you: When was the last time you put down fresh topsoil?

If the answer is way back in the spring, your landscaping has devoured all the good stuff it needs.

In other words: Right now, your garden is hungry.

And the best way to keep it healthy and happy in fall and winter is with soil bags filled with new topsoil.

The benefit of doing this now: Summer heat and dryness can be hard on your lawn and garden. New triple mix soil helps with recovery and makes gardening that much easier come springtime.

Clean and seal your interlocking patio stones

Did your interlocking stone pavers stain or discolour over the summer?

Yes?

Well, now’s the perfect time to clean and seal them before fall and winter arrive. Otherwise, they could lose even more of their colourful lustre.

If you want to tackle this job yourself, just follow these simple steps:

1. Wash: Clean your patio stones completely with a garden hose or high-pressure washer.

2. Mix: A bucket full of water and stain remover detergent until it’s nice and soapy.

3. Dump: The water/detergent combo on your stones and let sit for 20 minutes.

4. Scrub: Once the 20 minutes have passed, deeply scrub the mixture into your stones with a brush.

5. Look: Any tough stains which are still there should be handled with a concrete stain remover product.

6. Top-Up: Joints between stones should be filled halfway with polymeric sand.

The final step is to apply the interlock sealant of your choice. Don’t use too much and always follow the directions on the label. If necessary, add a second layer once the first has dried completely.

Small touch-ups to improve curb appeal

These are little jobs which can have a big impact on the look and feel of your outdoor landscaping:

• Paint: Any dull or worn out areas should be spruced up with just a little bit of paint

• Mulch: New mulch will revitalize your garden and provide an extra layer of protection against the cold

• Plant: Getting late summer flowers and fall flowers in the ground now gives them ample time to adapt to your topsoil and bloom in full

• Replace: Any burnt out bulbs in your home landscape lights should be replaced now before it gets too cold and dark out

Need help tackling this list? Come to Van Beek’s

Whatever jobs you want to finish before summer officially ends, Van Beek’s has you covered:

- Need triple mix soil delivered to your home? No problem

- Looking for a big supply of natural or rubber mulch? You got it

- Want advice on how to get the best from your grass seed? Done

To start, you can contact us with any questions you have. We’ll get back to you ASAP with the answers you’re looking for.

Or, if you already know what you’re looking for, request a FREE quote. Again, we’ll be in touch quickly with the information you need.