What to Do in Your Garden in September

Can you believe it? September is here again. The summer season is such an active time making the arrival of September appear so much quicker, but here we are. September is probably the loveliest month of the year, at least for me. Lots of sunny days and warm temperatures without the heat that keeps us indoors. For many of us that are lucky enough to have apple or pear trees, grapes or corn it is also harvesting time. But did you know, September is also a good month for sowing seeds, planting bulbs, and growing brand-new plants–some to enjoy quickly, and some to blossom the next year.

So, with that, let’s take a look at what you can plant in September.

FLOWERS

HARDY ANNUALS FOR NEXT YEAR

You can make a start on several of next year’s plants this month. Sturdy annuals such as larkspur,  poppies, and also cornflowers can be started from seed from late summer onwards.

WILDFLOWERS

Wildflowers are a great addition for your garden and for the wildlife. Wildflowers offer food for pollinating insects, wild birds, and bats, and providing shelter for other small animals. I love wildflowers because they are fast-growing, low-maintenance, help to regulate weeds, as well as look great. So, I ask you, what’s not to like ?!

How to plant: Sow them in a patch of soil or in a container. Just follow the direction on the packet the seeds come in.

SPRING BLOOMING BULBS

Toward the end of September is the perfect time to plant some of the spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils, crocus, and hyacinths. But hold on a bit longer to plant tulips for they like cooler temperatures. Planting bulbs now will burst your garden into bloom early spring. You can layer bulbs that will flower at various times for a prolonged display.

WINTER VEGETABLES AND FRUIT 

WINTER-HARDY SPRING ONIONS

Winter-hardy ranges of springtime onion such as entertainer and also white Lisbon can be planted this month for harvesting next springtime. Plant them thinly in rows about 4″ apart and 0.3″ deep. Once the plants appear, thin them out to permit 8 – 10″ in between the plants.

SALAD

This month focus your salad sowing on “late” varieties such as radicchio, rocket, mizuna, as well as winter months lettuce. You should sow plenty of seeds now, as later sowings won’t germinate if temperatures begin to cool off. Another great crop to do with your children.

SPINACH

Spinach is a wonderful alternative for a veggie plot. Spinach is quite hardy, harvest the young leaves for a salad, or let them grow into larger leaves for other food preparation. If you’re going to sow it outdoors, do it soon as later in the month when the temps are cooler the seeds might need protection in order to sprout. Spinach will do well in a warm area and regular watering. Be sure to harvest avoid going to seed.

RADISHES

What is a green salad without radishes? It can truly add some crunchiness and flavor to a salad at this time of year. Choose a quick-maturing seed like French Breakfast which can be ready to be harvested in under 4 weeks. The speed of growth makes them a fantastic option to grow with children. Conversely, you can sow winter-time variety which will take 2-3 months to develop. 

SPRING CABBAGE

After consuming root vegetables all winter, being able to harvest fresh leafy vegetables such as cabbage is a real treat. If you intend to plant spring cabbage seeds straight into the ground, pick a sunny spot, and compact the dirt firmly as cabbage likes a firm anchor for their roots. You can also plant seeds into trays for transplanting out later on. This makes it much easier to safeguard them from slugs and snails. Great cabbage varieties are Durham early, Duncan, and Greensleeves.

STRAWBERRY RUNNERS

If you already have strawberries in your yard, you may have noticed that your plants have sent runners out by now. These are long shoots, with a few leaves on them. You can make new strawberry plants by securing these runners down into dirt or a pot of garden compost, where they will settle. As soon as they have rooted, you can cut them away from the parent plant.

We hope this article was useful in your gardening endeavors. Give us a call if we can be of help, or visit our website for more articles on gardening.

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Fall Garden Chores You Should Do

 

Chore #1: Gather Up the Fallen Leaves, Twigs, and Other Debris.

Why? If you leave all those fallen leaves on your lawn they’re going to bear down on your lawn and at some point disintegrate right into a thick layer of thatch you will need to remove later. Not only that, the accumulation of fallen leaves can act as hiding spots for pests and foster fungal diseases. To avoid future problems it is best to rake up any fallen leaves on a regular basis. You could consider turning them into mulch and leaving some of them on your grass to provide nutrients to your lawn.

Chore #2: Clean Out Your Gutters

Speaking of fallen leaves, many of them will end up in your gutters causing serious water overflow when it rains. But be careful, cleaning out gutters can pose a danger to you if you are not careful. For those readers that live in areas where it snows, take note, thawing ice and snow will pose additional problems for leave clogged gutters. So, to prevent water intrusion from overflowing gutters be sure to keep them clean. Consider the investment of gutter guards to avoid problems in the future.

Chore #3: Prune & Trim.

Now is the best time to remove any dead or diseased branches to encourage healthy growth next spring. However, the reason for trimming back trees and bushes isn’t just for aesthetics — dead tree branches in the fall can run the risk of dropping during high winds (or freezes) in the winter month causing damages to people and property. Another good reason to prune back trees and shrubs is to prevent them from overshadowing lawn areas causing the grass to die. In many cases it is best to prune when the plant has entered a dormant stage, so be sure that you know what you are doing.

Chore #4: De-Thatch and Re-Seed Your Lawn

The harsh heat of the summer month may have caused burn spots and thatch build-up in your lawn. Pets may have caused some damage too. Now is the perfect time to get rid of thatch and reseed with a seed mixture that is complementary to the type of grass you have. Of course, if you really want to do your lawn a big favor you should aerate it too.

Chore #5: “Winterize” Your Sprinkler System.

This may not apply for our friends in the warm climate States such as California but most certainly important in areas where it can freeze. The main reason to “winterize” a sprinkler system is when water freezes and expands damages to the pipes can and will occur. To prevent this from happening, drain all water from the system and close all drainpipe shut-offs. You can watch a video on how to do this right here.

Chore #6: “Winterize” Your Garden Tools

Once you know that you are done with your gardening chores it’s time to put away your tools. Give them a good clean, sharpen those blades and drain the gas from your mower so you can store it away safely. In the spring you will be happy to know that your tools are ready for you.

No doubt, there is always something to be done in a garden. Breaking up chores into smaller pieces will make them seem less insurmountable and overwhelming.

Regular lawn care is an important aspect of a “happy garden” and can easily be outsourced to a local service provider such as Shamrock Landscape in Benicia, Ca. Of course, you could spend your precious time doing it yourself but why would you.  Their weekly or bi-weekly services are very affordable and your lawn will be in good hands. You can visit their website for more information.

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