September

The summer heat still lingers way into September but there is a noticeable change in the air. Nights are cooler and the days are getting much shorter. The first day of fall arrives during the last two weeks of September although often it may not feel like it!

September is often a dry month unless hurricanes come up through the gulf. When this happens, we can get days and days of rain, and it is usually quite welcome. When this happens, the garden comes alive again and plants that looked as though they were on their last leg appear fresh and renewed.

September can be compared to March in that both are months that herald a new season in the garden. Our long growing season provides us with the opportunity to add new plants to the garden and the fall is an optimal time to plant trees and shrubs. The cooler temperatures also make garden clean-up and even starting new projects more enjoyable. So don't forget about the garden just now - there is much more to do!

Plants of Interest

• chrysanthemum
• aster
• salvia
• lantana
• basil
• pineapple sage
• calendula
• zinnia
• ginger lily
• cosmos
• rudbeckia
• sunflowers

 

Chores

• divide and transplant iris
  
• prepare vegetable beds for fall plantings
  
• plant cover crops (like crimson clover and rye grass) to rebuild the soil
  
• prune and fertilize annuals and perennials
  
• remove spent foliage from perennials
  
• groom and lightly prune roses
  
• fertilize roses for the last time this year
  
• fertilize lawns (ask your local county extension agent or a knowledgeable nursery employee what is best for your particular type of grass)