September Gardening in the Piedmont

September Gardening Tasks in the Piedmont

with Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers

After a long hot summer even hydrangeas find the cooler nights a mild relief. Bloom production slows and blossom colors mellow with a twinge of brown.

Perennials, Annuals & Bulbs

This is the best time to divide spring and summer blooming perennials and also to plant new perennials. The coming winter rest allows them to develop strong roots that will help them withstand the heat next summer. Be sure to keep them well watered.
Parsley, cilantro and chervil can all be planted now; why not try using them to fill in your pots or beds of pansies?
Continue with your rose spray program every ten to fourteen days; groom roses constantly, never leaving a dying stem on the plant; remove weak, broken, or spindly shoots.
Get ready for fall blossoms by cutting back your plants by one-third; fertilize after pruning and keep them soaked if the weather is dry.
After a long hot summer even hydrangeas find the cooler nights a mild relief. Bloom production slows and blossom colors mellow with a twinge of brown.
Now’s the time to plant peonies; look for older varieties that need less winter chill to develop next year's blooms.
Put out your plant markers before perennials die back, so you’ll know where not to step or dig in next year's garden.
Give annuals their last feeding to keep their blooms coming as long as possible.
Dig caladiums, curing and storing the tubers before they become too hard to locate.
It’s a great time to order bulbs and garlic, while selection is good. Keep them cool till time to plant in October or November, after soil temperatures drop.

Vegetables & Fruits

Tomatoes stop producing when night temperatures fall below 65 (F) and days become shorter. Remove all blossoms so plant nutrients flow to tomatoes that are already set.
Plant broccoli, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, radishes and spinach.
Control the whitefly population by hanging sticky yellow strips among your plants to trap them, especially on tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and squash.
Also control tomato hornworms and fruit worms with BT or Sevin when these critters are active this month.
Plan to start a backyard berry patch, so you’re ready to plant in October and November; try ‘Apollo’, ‘Atlas’, ‘Earlibelle’, and ‘Titan’ strawberries, different Highbush and Rabbiteye blueberry varieties.

Lawn & Landscaping

Fertilize cool-season (fescue) lawns in mid-September and again in November. If you did not have a soil test done, use a fertilizer with a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio with one pound actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.
Check for white grubs and control if necessary.
Over-seed thin, bare areas as grass begins responding to cooler temperatures in September and October, use blend of tall fescue cultivars at six pounds per 1,000 square feet and apply a starter fertilizer. Light frequent sprinklings several times a day will keep the bed moist and ensure good seed germination.

Trees, Shrubs & Groundcovers

Water your trees! Drought problems may just now be showing up on your established shade and flowering trees; just because it no longer feels like August doesn’t mean your trees aren’t being affected.
Discontinue fertilizing trees and shrubs; any new growth could be damaged by an early frost.

the "always more to do list"...

This is a good time to take a soil test, especially if you grow vegetables, so that recommended amendments like lime can be applied before planting time next spring.
Resist the urge to prune this month.
Water outdoor container plants daily, as needed; make sure to provide adequate drainage.
Start adding leaves to your compost pile. But remember, your compost pile is not a good place for your weeds.
Gather up houseplants that have spent the summer outdoors; wash foliage and re-pot if necessary. Take cuttings from coleus, lantana, geranium, begonia and impatiens to brighten up the indoors and replant outdoors next spring.

September featured topics:

FALL PLANTING for Spring-Flowering BULBS - by Dawn Ridley

Perennial PICKS - September Seductress: Silly Scilla! - by Andrea Sprott