September Gardening

Average temperatures High 90 Low 72
Average rainfall 5.76 inches
Autumn arrives September 22.

September Plantings

Vegetables: Early plantings include lima bean, snap bean, corn, cucumber, eggplant, pepper, southern pea, rhubarb, squash, and tomato; End of the month crops include arugula, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, celery, collard, endive, lettuce, mustard, onion, radish, strawberry, and turnip.

Flowers: Ageratum, angelonia, begonia, blue daze, butterfly weed, buttonbush, cat's whiskers, celosia, cleome, coleus, coreopsis, cosmos, firebush, garden mums, gaura, gazania, gerbera, goldenrod, gomphrena, heliotrope, impatiens, jacobinia, lantana, marigold, melampodium, nicotiana, pentas, periwinkle, plumbago, roses, salvia, sunflower, sweet alyssum, thyrallis, torenia, Turk?s cap, verbena, and zinnia.

Herbs: Anise, basil, bay laurel, borage, chives, coriander, dill, lemon balm, lavender, Mexican tarragon, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, sweet fennel, sweet marjoram, and thyme.

Bulbs: African iris, agapanthus, amaryllis, blackberry lily, bulbine, calla lily, crinum, crocosmia, day lily, gladiolus, kaffir lily, narcissus, society garlic, spider lily, rain lilies and walking iris.

Fruit and Vegetable Care

? Try to plant as many of the warm season crops as possible this month.

? Set tomatoes in ground or in containers early and start training to a trellis.

? Give large growing plants big containers to have room for roots and water.

? Clean containers and start with fresh potting soil each season.

? Keep container grown tomatoes uniformly moist to avoid blossom-end rot.

? Add vegetables and herbs to containers for patio and balcony gardens.

? All vegetables like a sunny site; leafy crops can often grow in filtered sun.

? Remember the sun dips south Fall through Winter so note sites that may become shady.

? Previously planted sites need organic matter and manure, like Black Kow, to revive the soil.

? Remove plastic covers from solarization treatments and plant without tilling.

? Where nematodes are a problem, dig a large hole and fill with potting soil to plant.

? Keep new plantings and seedlings moist; water older plantings when the soil begins to dry.

? Apply a first feeding two weeks after adding transplants or seed germination.

? Continue with monthly feedings for in ground plantings, every other week for containers.

? Consider substituting a slow-release fertilizer which may be the only feeding needed.

? Add flowering plants to gardens to invite pollinators in to visit.

? Provide supports for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and similar growing crops.

? Rejuvenate herb gardens in late September and add fresh plantings.

? Check the garden daily to determine soil moisture, control Fall growth and remove pests.

? Use mulches to conserve water, control weeds and keep soil off leafy crops.

? Remove side shoots to root from pineapple plants and increase your plantings.

? Start seedlings of Fall cool season crops later in the month.

? Begin citrus and avocado tree feedings toward the end of the month.

Lawn Care

? Summer rains have encouraged leaf spots and rot problems; a fungicide may be needed.

? Lawns often become thin in shady locations and regrow Fall through Spring.

? Where grass won?t grow consider use of an ornamental ground cover.

? Lawns with aggressive weeds need attention; dig out and resod or spot treat with herbicides.

? Delay general weed control till at least the end of the month.

? Check local ordinances to determine when lawn feedings can begin.

? Lawns with a hungry look may be given a light early month feeding where permitted.

? Some lawns may regreen with only an iron or minor nutrient application until feeding time.

? Normal Fall feedings are made in late September or October.

? Patch pest-damaged or weedy areas with new sod, plugs or seed.

? Complete seeding of Bahia turf in early September.

? Begin sodding lightly shady areas when drier weather returns.

? Lawn caterpillars and chinch bugs can continue in to Fall; control when noted.

? Fire ants are frequently found in lawns; spot treat mounds then treat the entire lawn.

? Test your soil acidity and adjust as needed.

? Aerate hard to wet or compacted soils.

? Several products are now available for nematode control by lawn care companies.

? Continue mowings at recommended heights but periodically change mowing patterns.

? Service lawn care equipment to have it ready for Fall.

In the Landscape

? Seasonal rains have caused plant decline in many landscapes, correct drainage and replant.

? Prune away dead or declining plant portions affected by Summer weather or pests.

? Weeds are plentiful; remove them before they disperse seeds.

? Renew mulches to prepare for drier Fall weather; only a light topping may be needed.

? Many plants have grown out of bounds; now is the time to do needed pruning.

? Give poinsettias and hydrangeas a final pruning.

? Many roses have dead or declining stems and old flowers that need to be removed.

? Clean and sharpen pruning equipment to make trimming easy with minimal plant damage.

? Expect caladiums and some gingers to start to decline and go dormant until Spring.

? Replant declining flowers with warm season selections; delay planting the cool season types.

? Clean containers and add fresh soil before replanting.

? Prune declining fronds and flower stems from palms but leave the green.

? Sterilize pruners between plants when trimming palms with possible diseases.

? Avoid planting palms with prevalent disease problems.

? Scale insects, mealy bugs and aphids have been active; control as needed.

? Sooty mold grows on the excreta of insects; control both with a horticultural oil spray.

? Check container plantings for plugged drainage holes; repot as needed.

? Chrysanthemums make attractive Fall flowers, but they only last a few weeks in the heat.

? Divide perennials and replant in the garden.

? Cooler climate bulbs are available, but few do well without special treatments for forcing.

? Add new trees, shrubs, and palms.

? Feed palms through October or use a slow-release fertilizer three to four times a year.

? Begin late September shrub and perennial feedings for Fall where permitted.

? Feed hanging baskets and orchids every other week.

? Remove declining leaves and flowers from water lilies; give a monthly feeding.

Houseplant Care

? There is still time to revive foliage plants by moving them outdoors to a shady site.

? Indoor orchids and bromeliads make good outdoor additions when they begin to decline.

? Groom foliage plants growing outdoors for an improved appearance.

? Control pests including scale, mealybugs, thrips and mites with natural sprays.

? Gradually reduce feedings and watering of Christmas and holiday cactus.

? Decide which plants to bring indoors for the cooler months.

? Transplant foliage plants needing new containers before the cooler Fall weather.

? Feed foliage plants monthly or use a slow-release fertilizer according to the label.

? Replace declining plants with new selections for Fall.

? Obtain amaryllis and paper white narcissus bulbs for Fall forcing.