September Gardening Checklist

General

• Fall is an excellent time for planting trees and shrubs (mid-August to mid-October).
• Enjoy those big juicy tomatoes you dreamed of in January!
• Make notes about your garden. Did you try new vegetables and did some do better than others? Which varieties did you like and why? Make notes about your perennials and annuals too.
• Start cleaning up the debris from your lawn and garden. Any diseased material should go in your trash; everything else can be placed in the compost pile.
• Continue to turn your compost pile. Moisten if needed.
• Keep a sharp eye out for garden pests and treat immediately. Use insecticides wisely. Apply the proper product just when and where needed and use dosages according to the package directions. Our knowledgeable staff can assist in determining the problem and the most effective treatment.
• Many four legged critters are looking for extra food to eat and store for winter now. Repellents are helpful; there are odor and taste types available. Be prepared to try more than one type and to alternate several kinds since animals can get used to a constant odor or taste and learn to ignore it.
• Garden Mums, Rudbeckia, Butterfly Weed, Pansies, and Flowering Cabbage and Kale and many other fall plants are available to add some great fall color to your yard.

Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs in the Fall

• When planting spring flowering bulbs, if you are unsure as to which end should go up, plant the bulb on its side.  The shoots will always grow up towards the surface.
• Fertilize spring flowering bulbs with bone meal or a good bulb fertilizer

Birding in Your Backyard

• Clean your bird feeders and bird bath. Keeping them cleaned on a regular basis is important for birds’ health
• Watch for early fall migrant birds. You may see the first south-bound hummingbirds in August.

Lawns

• Fall is the most important time to fertilize your lawn.  Fertilize now and then again around Halloween.
• Apply weed and feed to your lawn when grass is moist, such as after a rain or heavy dew.
• Aerate your lawn before seeding this fall. Aerating allows water and air to reach the roots, reduces compaction, and improves your lawns’ overall health.
• Seed or sod bare spots in your lawn.  The cooler temperatures and more rain make it a good time.

Vegetables & Annuals

• Check out the great fall plants available at the Garden Center, including a wide selection of Garden Mums, several varieties of Flowering Cabbage and Kale, Rudbeckia, Asclepias, Coreopsis, Pennisetum and second season Pansies. Replacing tired annuals with fresh vibrant frost tolerant annuals now will ensure great color right through late fall and early winter.
• Remove rotting fruit and leaf debris promptly from all gardens, especially your vegetable garden, to prevent disease and insect problems, and avoid attracting foraging ‘critters’.
• Continue to remove dead flowers and seed heads from annuals to promote continuous blooming as long as the season permits.
• Keep watering and fertilizing annuals.  All container plants need to be watered on a regular basis.
• Pull weeds when they are small- this will save time and effort later. Small weeds are a great addition to your compost bin as a great source of moisture, Nitrogen and trace minerals.

Trees, Shrubs, Roses, & Perennials

• Now is a good time to divide many of your perennials
• Stop fertilizing Trees, Shrubs, Roses and Perennials.  They need ample time to slow their growth and harden off for winter.  Feeding in the fall, especially with high Nitrogen fertilizers, promotes new vegetative growth which is more vulnerable to winter die-back. The plant is also less able to store carbohydrates needed for energy in spring.
• Fall is still a good time to plant. Choose fresh, healthy plants and provide them with adequate deep watering.  Newly planted trees and shrubs should be watered deeply two to three times a week, more if necessary. A two inch layer of wood chip mulch beneath plants will keep soil temperature and moisture levels more even and promote better root growth. Keep the mulch one or two inches away from the plant stems to avoid insect and disease problems; extend it beyond the width of the plant’s drip line.
• Begin to leave spent flowers of perennials and roses to set seed now. This helps plants begin the slowdown needed for their winterizing process. Many seed heads can be left for interest and texture in the coming winter garden. They also provide winter food for birds.
• Shrubs and trees herald cooler nights by putting on fall colors as they begin to store food for the winter’s rest. Walk your neighborhood parks and note those that appeal to you. Gardening can be a year round adventure if you take some time to explore and appreciate all of the wonderful possibilities out there.

Indoor Plants

• Now that the nights are getting cooler, it is time to bring your indoor plants that have been out all season back inside the house.
• Inspect closely for insects and treat if necessary. Catching a small pest problem early can eliminate an infestation during the winter. This is especially important if your house plants ‘vacation’ outdoors for the summer.
• This would also be a good time to give them a good shower to wash off the dust and dirt that accumulated on the foliage from the last couple of months.
• Be sure to reduce your fertilizing to every 2-4 weeks since the plants’ growth slows down during the fall and winter months.

If you have questions or problems, our helpful customer service representatives will be happy to answer any questions you may have. We want you to be a successful gardener with less work!