Summer flowers know how to make an entrance. By August, however, some of those dazzling blooms start looking a little tired, leaving gaps where all that glorious color once stood. The good news is that a garden does not need to become a collection of floppy stems and fading petals once summer reaches the home stretch.
The trick involves planting for structure, not just flowers. Certain shrubs, grasses, perennials, and even seed-producing plants keep their shape, texture, foliage, or architectural presence long after the peak bloom period passes. These eight choices can help a garden look intentional well into fall, even when the petunias have clearly decided their seasonal vacation has begun.
