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Landscaping Tips for the Month of September
Planning:
- Complete ordering spring-flowering bulbs and other plants for fall planting
- Continue to assess areas in the garden which 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 2in. 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 which 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 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 6-10 weeks
- Take cuttings of begonias, geraniums, solenstemon (coleus), etc. to grow on as houseplants
