September Garden Chores

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Lawns:

• Fertilize fescue and bluegrass lawn. Use slow-release fertilizer to reduce risk of nutrient run-off.
• This is the time to reseed bare spots in the fescue and bluegrass lawns.
• Although weeds have been plentiful this year, remember that you cannot use pre-emergent herbicides (weed preventers) in the same season you are planting seeds.

Ornamentals:

• Now is NOT the time to fertilize perennials and woody plants. Late season nitrogen can reduce cold hardiness and force growth that can be damaged by hard frosts.
• This is a good time to cut flowers for drying. Good candidates for air drying include celosia, yarrow, statice, globe amaranth, strawflowers, goldenrod and grasses.
• Leaving some of the few remaining seed heads of coneflower, sunflower and black eyed susan can be good for the birds to enjoy in the months ahead.
• Move houseplants indoors before temperatures drop below 50°F. Check for signs of insects and treat. Rinse off foliage, remove dead leaves and cut back long stems.
• Now is time to divide peonies that have not flowered well. Leave several “eyes” on each division and be sure to replant them with the eyes no more than 2 inches below the soil surface. Keep them
  watered this fall.
• Check evergreens for bagworms. Removing them now prevents re-infestation next spring.
• Pull spent summer annuals and replace them with pansies or ornamental cabbage.

Fruits:

• To reduce the reoccurrence of fruit rot in peaches and grapes next year remove all plant debris including mummified fruit left hanging on the plant and lying on the ground.
• Remove weeds and fertilize in strawberry beds where plants are forming next spring’s flower buds. Also water if September rains are lacking.
• Prune blackberries and raspberries and remove the old fruit bearing canes from this year. Also thin new canes to leave only 4-8 canes per square yard.

Vegetables:

• Remove spent vegetable plants as soon as possible to reduce carry-over of insect and disease problems. Consider keeping a separate compost pile for diseased plants and do not use that compost in the vegetable garden.
• It may be difficult to successfully ripen green tomatoes indoors. If the plant is infected with late blight the fruit will usually rot before it ripens, even after washing with bleach.
• Plant fall vegetables by mid-month. Sow lettuce seeds every couple of weeks for a continual harvest.
• Cilantro and dill can also be sown during cooler weather.
• Insects can be a problem with all of the cabbage family crops. A weekly application of B.t. bacteria spray will prevent cabbageworms. Use insecticidal soap for aphids if needed.
• Consider planting a cover crop on vegetable beds to build organic matter for next year’s garden. This
  is a good time to sow clover, vetch or Austrian winter peas. Mark your calendar to mow and turn
  under in February or March before the next growing season.

Other:

• Keep filling the hummingbird feeder. Migrating birds will make use of the food supply even into October.
• Keep after those weeds to prevent them from spreading seeds.

For more information, view the following video produced by BCTV 2, hosted by Linda Blue or call 255-5522.

September Garden Chores

_{Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this article as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this article does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned.}