If you are thinking that the summer is almost over and it is too late to plant anything, you could not be more wrong. There are still lots of things that you can plant in late July or early August on the Lower Mainland. In today’s blog we will give you some hints on what to plant this time of year.

Shrubs and Flowers

You can still plant things like zinnias from seed. They bloom late into the fall and have plenty of time to flower. If you see some perennials that you like, go ahead and plant them. Just be sure to water lots this time of year when it is hot and sunny.

Shrubs? Sure, just water lots. You can even plant a tree. This is not the ideal time to plant trees, but you can definitely plant them now, just baby them more than would be needed if you planted when it was cooler and rainier.

Vegetables

Most vegetables that do well in the cooler temperatures are fine to plant now. For example, you can plant carrots and beets. Lettuce and peas do great in the cooler fall weather, so feel free to plant them now. Many of us seed things like radishes and carrots at two-week intervals throughout the spring and summer.

It’s probably too late to plant tomatoes from seed, but if you see big tomato plants at the nursery go ahead and plant them. You still have time to get some tomatoes.

Do not be afraid to experiment in your yard and try planting different things. There are no garden police that will stop you from adding some marigolds to an empty spot in your flower bed. Enjoy your garden and see what you can grow starting right now. 

Art Knapp has 15 locations across British Columbia and is well known as the go-to garden centre for everything garden-related. Art Knapp, himself, began the business in the 1940's, and now, 80 years later, you can find more than he ever dreamed of in our stores. Come and see us on King George Boulevard in Surrey. 

If you have any questions about this article or want to talk to us about gardening, just give us a call at (604) 596-9201.