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[hoosieroriginal]

Started depotting annuals and putting things away for the fall.  (They had 8" mums for $2.99 at Aldis the other day - got them, then put them back - darn!)  It has been so dry here nothing really looks good anymore, except my begonias, which still look great (will be getting more of those next year for sure!).  Putting outdoor rugs away, painted my front deck chair, bagging the last of the limbs. In a couple of weeks I'll start cutting down my grasses (I cut them while they are still green because if I wait I can't cut through the dried stalks).  My big chore (leaves) will go on for the next couple of months - so I'm not out of the wood yet!  When do you start your cleanup for the fall?

[Mominohio]

Wow, you are way ahead of the game!

It is beautiful here, sunny and in the 70's. Just now getting dry enough weather to enjoy the porch, deck and yard. 

Traditionally September is our best month outdoors, so waiting a couple of months before dismantling here.

[ID2]

Nope, I'm not in any hurry to say goodbye to Summer. We don't start our Fall clean up till end of Sept and into Oct. We're still having fun with boating, jet skiing, etc. My flowers/plants are in their Summer glory right now so there's no way I'd begin cutting them back so soon!! 

[hoosieroriginal]

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@ID2 wrote:

Nope, I'm not in any hurry to say goodbye to Summer. We don't start our Fall clean up till end of Sept and into Oct. We're still having fun with boating, jet skiing, etc. My flowers/plants are in their Summer glory right now so there's no way I'd begin cutting them back so soon!! 

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@ID2 - my petunias always get so leggy and bare looking - just couldn't stand looking at them anymore! 

[Allegheny]

@hoosieroriginal

I understand.  SW PA here, we're still really green for August but many of my in ground perennials are starting to lose their vibrancy and I'll probably be cutting them back earlier than usual. I only potted 4 containers (window box with geraniums, a cordyline, purple fountain grass and a dahlia).  I am going to put the fountain grass in ground and let nature take it course as it is an annual here.  I'll keep the geraniums until frost.  Soon I'll unpot the dahlia bulbs and may try and overwinter the cordyline.

I may follow your path and cut my grasses down in late fall rather then in the spring.  I need to put a coat of paint on my deck railing yet.  We pressured washed our driveway already.  I need to give my garden tools a good cleaning before storage.  It feels good to do these tasks gradually, rather then trying and accomplish in a few days.    However, I still may purchase a couple of potted mums in September.  

[Snicks1]

We usually close our pool around or right after Labor Day weekend, then a couple weeks after that the cleanup begins in earnest and the leaf raking lasts till around Thanksgiving.

[Julie928]

@hoosieroriginal ~ I won't start until sometime in September.  Like you, we have had little to no rain and the yard looks sad.  I was just out back thinking to myself how I give up!  Things are wilted, and I water!  The mums at Aldi are nice!  I purchased three for the front porch but that's it ~ normally I buy lots but just don't want to worry about watering pots.  It's supposed to rain tomorrow ~ positive thoughts!!!!

[Mominohio]

I have spent this week outside scrubbing the siding and windows, but that seems more like spring cleaning late, rather than fall cleaning early!!!

[AuntG]

It has to freeze before I pull anything out.  By mid-October the outdoor stuff will be hauled back in.

[Teddie]

I've noticed some have been decorating for fall since the beginning of August. It's still summer here and fall doesn't officially begin until September 22. We're still enjoying summer.