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Gardening Calendar
September is a month that many of us struggle to find the energy or
enthusiasm to garden. Heat is still lingering on and it is a bit late to plant
summer plants, but a tad early to plant cool season plants. For this transition
period, try to keep what you have planted alive and thriving with water and a
bit of fertilizer, but consider starting the fall vegetables that we now grow as
ornamentals. These include Swiss chard - ‘Bright lights’ or ‘Ruby Red’; Bulls
Blood beets, Red Giant Mustard, flowering kale and cabbage. September is a month
to continue to plant the fall vegetable garden, so whether you are doing edible
landscaping or simply planting tough performers, there is something to plant,
before October hits and we can begin to plant pansies and violas. Caterpillars
and other insects don’t care if they are ornamental or edibles, so monitor your
plants closely for pests and control them early.
Fall vegetable gardens take a bit more diligence than early spring ones.
Insects and diseases have had a chance to build up all season and can attack
more quickly and be harder to kill. Soil temperatures are hot and plants
germinate quickly, but they also dry out quickly. Water and mulch are your main
priorities. There is still time to plant spinach, lettuce, greens, radishes and
onions. Depending on availability of transplants, you can even plant cabbage,
broccoli and cauliflower now as well. Harvesting during the cool days of fall
gives your vegetables great flavor.
If your garden has seen better days - whether it is flowers or vegetables,
clean up is in order. As soon as perennials start to die back, their season is
over. Cut the foliage back and remove it. IF the foliage was healthy all season
and has just ended its life cycle, add it to your compost pile. If you had
insect or disease problems, dispose of it instead. Early perennials such as
bleeding hearts, peonies and phlox have started dying back or may be through.
Many lilies are also finished for the season. Lycoris - the red surprise lilies
are beginning to bloom and once they finish, the foliage will appear and last
all winter - so don’t cut them back. Other perennials that are blooming now
include Japanese anemones, toad lilies, salvias - including the phenomenal
Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) which may be six feet tall or more;
Joe pye weed, Turks Cap – Malvaviscus arborea and goldenrod. Ornamental
grasses of all sizes and shapes are setting their plumes for outstanding fall
and winter interest. If your garden lacks color now, consider adding some of
these.
Shrubs that are blooming now include buddleia (butterfly bush), crape myrtles
- if deadheaded, althea, and caryopteris –with lovely purple flowers. Summer
spireas may set more flowers, if they continue to put on new growth, as can the
repeating hydrangeas like Endless Summer and Blushing Bride. Knock out roses are
continuing to bloom, and Beautyberry (Callicarpa species) are beginning
to have showy purple or white berries. Shrub care in September is usually
limited to watering. We don’t want to fertilize anymore now or you might
encourage tender new growth that won’t be winter hardy. Pruning should also be
done sparingly, if at all. Spring flowering shrubs have their flower buds set,
or are continuing to set them now. Pruning now, will interfere with spring
blooms. Light shaping of evergreen holly or boxwoods is fine, but don’t do
severe pruning or you will look at cut edges all winter, or have tender new
growth appearing. Hold off on most pruning jobs until spring or after bloom.
Summer tropicals should continue to be fertilized and watered. They have at
least another two months of flowers for your garden. Fall need not be boring -
color choices abound.
Herbs are wonderful in containers, in the vegetable garden, a stand-alone
herb garden or interspersed with ornamentals. If you are growing annuals such as
basil and dill, keep harvesting to prevent them from blooming and dying back. If
you harvest more than you can use at one sitting, dry them and use later, or mix
some in with water and freeze in ice cube trays. You can add these to soups and
stews all winter. In the case of basil, make up some pesto for use this winter.
If you are growing perennials, including rosemary, sage, thyme and oregano,
don’t overharvest when it is hot and dry. Do use them as needed in your cooking,
but prune judiciously so as not to overstress the plants.
In central Arkansas we grow primarily warm season grasses - Zoysia, Bermuda,
St. Augustine and centipede with some cool season tall fescue in the shady
spots. All fertilization for warm season grasses should be done by mid
September. No more fertilizer should be applied after that. You can use a
pre-emergent herbicide to prevent winter weeds. Disease problems took their toll
on many lawns this year –from rust to brown patch. Lawn diseases can be
difficult for the average homeowner to control. Proper identification will help
as will some fall applications of a fungicide if brown patch has been diagnosed.
Continue to water and mow weekly. Gradually raise the height of your lawn at
this time to prepare for the winter.
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