Here’s what to do in the garden before fall

The kids have gone back to school, football season is upon us and pumpkin spice-flavored products are back. That can mean only one thing: Fall will be here soon — on Sept. 22, to be exact.

Our gardens are beginning to wither in the heat, signaling the coming transition from summer to fall. Although it’s still hot outside, you can go ahead and start preparing your garden for the change in seasons.

Here’s a checklist of things you can do now to get ready for the fall:

Remove vegetables that have stopped producing and start fall crop seeds.

The intense heat of August can shut down tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and other vegetables. If you have plants that are no longer bearing fruit, feel free to pull them. But you don’t have to be in a rush to discard plants that are still doing well. In f