Fertilizer is like the garden equivalent of a helpful snack. A little boost seems harmless, especially when plants still look green and productive, but late-summer feeding can sometimes encourage exactly the kind of growth a plant does not need heading into cooler weather. For several common garden plants, August and early September mark the point when the fertilizer bag should spend more time sitting quietly in the shed.
The goal is not to starve plants. It is to let seasonal growth slow naturally, particularly when nitrogen could push out fresh, tender shoots that have little time to mature before cold weather arrives. Some plants also have very specific feeding schedules, so knowing when to put the fertilizer away can protect plants, reduce wasted product, and make fall garden chores considerably simpler.
