There are a number of garden tasks to do in September. These include the following:
• Lawn: Improve patchy or compacted areas by aerating with a pitchfork, over-seeding, and top-dressing with 1/2 to 1 inch of compost. Fertilize with 5-10-10 (can also do in October).
• Roses: Remove any diseased rose leaves from rose beds, control black-spot on the shrub with a fungicide spray (can do this throughout the summer), leave rose hips to promote dormancy, for winter color, and as nourishment for the birds.
• Continue to deadhead flowering plants (leave purple coneflower seed heads for birds). Good time to plant trees, shrubs, perennials, and best time to plant peonies. Wait until next spring to plant Azaleas and Rhododendrons.
• Peony, viburnum and hydrangea should be fertilized with bone meal.
• ‘Winterize’ trees and shrubs by watering deeply when there’s not been sufficient rain.
• Keep pulling weeds (best to do when ground is moist but not soaking wet).
• When raspberry canes have finished fruiting, cut them off. Stake new canes.
• Divide perennials, and either replant divisions or give them away.
• Begin planting spring blooming bulbs like daffodils, crocus and other small bulbs in mid-September. You can plant tulips as late as November. Scratch bulb booster into the top area of soil once you’ve planted the bulbs, and not into the bottom of the hole as it may burn the bulbs.
• Plant winter-hardy pansies, and annuals calendula, dianthus and ornamental cabbage
• Don’t trim hedges until next spring
• Bring houseplants indoors to acclimate before you turn the heat on
Sun and Shade Gardening 