Now is the perfect time to remove any damaged plant material, trim, prune and mulch for the dryer, cooler weather. Use a diluted fertilizer and then gradually increase it until spring arrives. Your plants will go through the winter with a good head-start to Spring's new growth.
As the Beans and other summer crops decline, pull them out, lay a new layer of compost and plant your fall crops. There is no need to turn the soil, as this will turn any seeds that have blown into your garden under the surface where they will sprout. If it is windy, use mulch to retain moisture until the new seeds emerge.
If you are planting eatables, this is also true for these as well as ornamental plants. Keep insect sprays to a minimum during the cooler weather as plants will be more susceptible to damage from those treatments. Plant the cool weather loving plants like Broccoli, Radishes, Peas and many others as soon as the weather cools, usually September or October.
Protect the tender new growth from frost with a light-weight cloth and remove it when the sun warms up in the a.m. hours. Water in the early morning hours to avoid mold and mildew problems.
Information on the growing pains in Sub-tropics and Tropical gardens.
