Garden Plants You Should Stop Fertilizing as Summer Ends

As summer ends, many established trees, shrubs, perennials, and roses need a fertilizer break so they can slow growth and prepare for cooler weather – Shutterstock

As summer starts running out of steam, your fertilizer routine deserves a second look. Continuing to feed certain garden plants simply because they still have green leaves can encourage tender new growth at exactly the wrong time, leaving plants less prepared for the cooler weather ahead.

That does not mean every plant needs to go on a strict fertilizer vacation. Some vegetables still producing crops, container plants with heavy nutrient demands, and plants with specific deficiencies may need continued feeding, but many established landscape plants benefit from a pause as the growing season winds down.