September Gardening Tips

Planning
- Complete ordering spring-flowering bulbs and other plants for fall planting

- Continue to assess areas in the garden that may need additional planting

- Continue to work on a landscape plan for fall planting of trees and shrubs

- Continue to take garden notes and/or photographs to plan future plantings

Chores and Maintenance
- If rain is still lacking, continue to practice water-wise horticultural techniques

- De-thatch and aerate existing lawns to promote root growth

- Mow lawns regularly to keep grass at 2 1/2" height

- Complete lawn restoration before September 15

- Collect seed from perennials and annuals

- Continue to cut flowers for drying: yarrow, strawflower, gomphrena, cockscomb, etc.

- Remove and compost spent annuals and fallen leaves

- Continue to aerate and moisten compost pile to speed decomposition

- Continue to check for insect pests and treat accordingly

- Continue to remove any fallen leaves and debris that can harbor insect pests and disease organisms

- Continue to apply deer repellent

- Take in tender aquatic plants and tropical fish from ponds

- Begin to feed birds

Planting
- Plant and transplant broad-leaved and needle-leaved evergreens through October 15

- Continue to propagate herbs from new growth and transplant into pots for indoor winter use

- Continue to divide and transplant early-blooming perennials

- Divide daylilies after flowering

- Plant lilies

- Sow hardy annuals in prepared planting beds

- If weather is cool, begin planting spring-flowering bulbs but wait until late October to plant tulips

- Plant late-season annuals like ornamental kale and cabbage for fall color

- Sow parsley, radish, lettuce, carrot, and onion

- Complete planting out seedling biennials

Pruning/Fertilizing
- Prune rambler roses

- Prune to remove any diseased and dead rose canes

- Root prune wisteria that doesn't bloom

- Add organic matter such as manure, compost and/or leaf mold to improve garden soils

- Fertilize roses one last time

- Fertilize lawns with organic fertilizer to stimulate winter root development

Indoors
- If frost threatens, take in houseplants and pinch back houseplants before returning them indoors

- Check houseplants for insect pests and treat as necessary before bringing them in

- Begin to force poinsettias for Christmas. Move indoors to a sunny location and cover for 14 hours each night for a period of 6 to 10 weeks

- Take cuttings of begonias, geraniums, solenstemon (coleus), etc. to grow on as houseplants