Use This September Garden Checklist to Prepare for Fall
In a recent article in the New York Times, longtime florist Jenny Rose Carey stated that when it comes to flowers, “September is the new May.” Every year, she visits fall gardens across the country to see what else is in bloom in September, and then applies what she learns to her home garden.
Carey’s strategy includes year-round preventive garden maintenance, in other words, going beyond caring for flowers and plants that are currently in season and working to optimize future growth in her garden.
The rest of us may not be as methodical, but could probably benefit from a little proactive maintenance. If you don’t know exactly what to do in the garden this month, here’s a September garden checklist that might help.
Garden checklist for September
All gardens are different, so these tasks may not apply to you. But in general, here’s what to do in your garden in September, broken down by category:
Flowers (annual and perennial)
- Continue cutting to encourage the growth of the last few flowers of this season.
- Divide and/or plant daylilies and peonies at the start of the month if you haven’t already.
- Start planting spring-blooming bulbs (like daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, crocuses, or irises) at the end of the month (or wait until October). Ideally, you should do this about six weeks before the ground freezes , or when normal nighttime temperatures are between 40 and 50 degrees. (It is important to plant the bulbs in the ground before it freezes so that the roots have time to take root.)
Fruits, vegetables and herbs
- Continue picking fruits and vegetables as they ripen . Leave collards, cabbages, and Brussels sprouts alone until the first frost, and then harvest. (This improves their taste.)
- Plant a fall cover crop (such as oats, winter rye, winter wheat, crimson clover, and hairy vetch) to protect and improve the soil .
- Any excess produce can be fermented, dried or frozen .
Also, if you want to create a compost heap, September is a great time to do so, and this Lifehacker composting guide can help you.