Time to give your garden a late-summer pick-me-up

The garden can start looking a little tired by mid-August, so consider these six ways to refresh the landscape.

Clean it up Just a little cleanup can do wonders. Continue deadheading flowers, and pull out any annuals, like lobelia, that look past their prime. Trim back overgrown plants, and spread mulch or another top dressing to give the garden a tidy appearance.

Trim and fertilize Keep healthy annuals blooming by trimming them back moderately and fertilizing regularly. Midsummer blooming perennials might still put on another flush of bloom if they're trimmed back now.

Add color For a new splash of color, add late-blooming plants like sunflowers, asters, coreopsis and pansies. Perennials can be planted now if they're kept watered; be sure to choose gallon-size plants, which are more established and have a better chance of survival.

Think ahead Buy a pot or two in fall colors like red, black or brown, then plant them with a mixture of earthy-toned annuals and perennials that will look fabulous until November. As a bonus after the annuals die back, perennials like heucheras and grasses will remain attractive through the winter.

Add garden art Look for a spot in the garden where the plants didn't fill out well and fit it with a beautiful piece of pottery or garden art. A colorful urn, olive jar, or uniquely shaped container doesn't even have to be planted to invigorate the landscape. If desired, plant the container next month with grasses, mums or heucheras for additional appeal.

Lighten up Install low-voltage lighting to illuminate a feature in the landscape. Up-lighting a graceful tree creates an enchanting glow for family and friends to enjoy while sitting on the deck or patio during the remaining summer nights.