September To-Do List

Enjoy your local garden centers and farmers' markets in the fall

Fall is the best time for planting many things. The soil is still warm from the summer, we’re getting cooler air temperatures, and the summer drought seems to be over. The University of Maryland Extension and our friends at Jonathan Green agree that now is the time for fertilizing and seeding the lawn. When seeding, we recommend the Black Beauty line of grass seed. Use a seed starting fertilizer and consider Mag-i-cal to help bolster your soil’s pH and overall health.  Choose the seed that fits your landscape, be it shady, sunny or a little of each. The dark green grass that emerges in 14-21 days from seed will overwinter providing a nice-looking lawn for spring. If grass seed isn’t necessary, give your lawn a fall feeding of fertilizer to boost the lawn with nitrogen for greening and potassium for overall grass health.

Like grass seed, consider sowing wildflower seed now too. You’ll need to do it soon, though. Ideally sow seed 8 weeks before a killing frost.

Plant a tree. The saying goes that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is now. Trees I planted 20 years ago have created summer shade, winter protection from the wind and year-round beauty. I use Bartlett Tree Experts to thin out the trees and to remove any dying branches or branches that get in the way of mowing and gardening. My yard does not have room for one more tree, but if it did, I’d plant one now. Go with Native trees like Redbuds and exotic trees like Japanese maples. The varieties are endless. Dig a hole wider than the root ball, but no deeper. Add some Biotone transplant fertilizer and compost or soil amendment like LeafGro around the sides of the root ball. Make sure the trunk flare is visible above the soil line after mulch is added. Water weekly (more if the temperatures are up) until the soil freezes.

My neighbor's Crepe Myrtle has beautiful fall leaf color and bark texture

Perennials are great to plant now. Consider adding some natives for the pollinators as they migrate south. For butterflies, Goldenrod seems to be a favorite. Birds feast on dogwood berries and Winterberry hollies. Our local Audubon Society is a good resource for information on specific birds’ diet and habitat preferences. Stake your tall, fall bloomers like dahlias and salvias. Add some of the compost leftover from planting to top dress your gardens, Well-rotted manures work well as compost too.

Solidago/Golden Rod provides for Monarchs during migration

Mums are the stars of the fall garden. They work out well as perennials if they get in the ground soon. Kept in pots until they are finished blooming, mums are a seasonal spot of color on the porch and patio. They will not generally overwinter in pots. 

Choose mums that have just started to bloom

Pansies are great for fall color and will rebloom come late winter and early spring. While they may not overwinter in pots, similar to the mums, they do overwinter if planted in the ground. Area landscapers will plant pansies and their viola cousins for late color now and early color in spring. 

Freeze or can some of summer’s bounty. Freeze cherry and plum tomatoes whole. The University of Maryland has all sorts of tips for harvesting and preserving herbs and vegetables.

Harvest green tomatoes before frost. Store them at room temperature in brown paper bags.

My tomatoes may not ripen in time. Into paper bags they go!

Plant vegetables for fall harvest. It may be late for Brussels Sprouts, but plenty of time for kale, spinach, Swiss chard and root crops like beets and radishes.

Start or refresh a compost. Mine is just a woven wire fence staked on four corners. Fill it with alternating layers of green grass clippings, and brown leaves. Use a garden fork to turn weekly. Add the compost to your garden next spring or summer.

Get ready to dig up summer bulbs after the first light frost. Cannas, begonias, dahlias, gladiolus will not survive overwinter if the temperatures fall below 0 degrees F. 

Plant spring blooming bulbs once the ground is cooler, usually in mid-October- November. Tulips, daffodils, crocus, alliums and scores of other bulbs planted in the fall will provide beautiful color come spring. 

Trowel, auger, or bulb planters come in handy this time of year. 

Houseplants that have summered outside should be acclimated to lower light levels outside before moving them. Clean off leaves with a light mixture of mild soap and water. Then spray them with either Horticultural Oil and/or Insecticidal Soap.

The Z Z looks like an angel with the light over the pot

Ficus and Pachira enjoying their indoor home

Leave the leaves. In garden beds, they will suppress weeds and will serve as a habitat for frogs, turtles, birds, lizards and beneficial insects through the winter. In lawns, mow the leaves with the grass. Add leaves to the compost pile as well. Leaves add nutrients to the soil making it healthier as they decay.

Most importantly, enjoy the colors, temperatures and unhurriedness of fall. It's time to take it easy. Just ask your plants.