September in the Garden

Planting

With temperatures falling and rainfall increasing, fall is a great time to plant large shrub and tree specimens. Planting in fall gives shrubs and trees a long time to get established and grow new roots before the heat of summer comes on. Plant cool season color such as petunias, alyssum, dianthus, cyclamen, primrose and ornamental kale. Replant containers with fall color including chrysanthemums, marigolds and croton. Plant roses now. Many rose varieties bloom heavily in the fall. Direct seed cool-season vegetables such as carrots, beets, fava beans, spinach and salad greens into the garden. Plant transplants of cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts now through October. Plant cool season herbs such as cilantro, dill, fennel and parsley.

Shop now for pre-chilled tulip bulbs for planting in December. Purchase daffodil, Dutch iris, crocus, grape hyacinth and other hardy bulbs for planting now through January. Over-seeding with cool season grasses, such as annual rye, perennial rye and fescue should be done mid-September to mid-October.

Maintenance

Now is the time to fertilize lawns, trees, roses and shrubs. Use an all purpose fertilizer that includes Potassium, which will help plants stand up to cold winter temperatures. Amend vegetable beds with organic compost before planting. Feed all new vegetable plants with a vegetable fertilize and follow up with foliar feedings of liquid seaweed.

Between mid-September and mid-October apply pre-emergent weed control to your lawn and flowerbeds. Corn gluten meal can be used as an organic pre-emergent and should be applied at a rate of 20lbs per 1,000 sq.ft. Add grass clippings and plants removed from the garden to the compost pile. Mulch all new plantings and keep them adequately watered. Be sure to adhere to local watering restrictions. Water established plants deeply and infrequently. Established lawns, shrubs and trees will need a deep watering about once per week. Use Gator-Bags to help keep newly planted trees and shrubs properly watered. Do not rely on your sprinkler system to adequately water new plantings. Provide supplemental hand watering to new plants several times a week, as needed. Between 6am-8am is the best time to water.