September in the Garden

September should bring relief to gardens in the Northern Hemisphere and signal the start of a new season for gardeners in areas that have been too warm for anything but hothouse tropicals, as well as southern hemisphere gardeners. So whether you are beginning the process of putting your garden to bed or gearing up for a fresh start, September can be one of the busiest months in the garden.

 

Everyone

Miscellaneous

• Stop pruning and fertilizing
• Bring summer houseplants back indoors while the windows are still open. Check carefully for pests.
• Start fall clean-up in the flower beds, cutting back anything that has finished blooming or is diseased.
• Take cuttings to overwinter indoors.

Flowers and Other Ornamental Plants

• Divide and move perennials.
• Dig and store tender bulbs like: dahlias, caladiums, cannas and tuberous begonias.
• Start planting spring flowering bulbs.

Don't forget the bulb food!

Vegetables

• Harvest remaining vegetables, including green tomatoes.
• Wait for a hard freeze before harvesting Brussels Sprouts.
• Pick herbs for drying or freezing.
• Cure winter squash for storage.

Trees & Shrubs

• Plant trees and shrubs. Keep well watered, if there isn't sufficient rain.

Warmer Areas

• Restart the vegetable garden. Start seeds of heat lovers like tomatoes and peppers.
• Direct sow seeds of lettuce, greens, onions, peas, beans and broccoli.
• Seed cool season annuals.
• Plant fall bulbs.
• Plant perennials and shrubs.
• Prune summer flowering shrubs.