Let’s get ready for September in preparation to cooler
temperatures by fertilizing annuals, perennials, and roses one last time for
winter preparation. Check flowerbeds for pooped-out perennials such as Purple
Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, and Shasta Daisy. Trim dead flower heads and
brown leaves for fall. Apply a new layer of mulch. Mulch helps keep the plants
warm in winter and cool during summer months.
Fertilize Chrysanthemums and Salvia with a liquid plant food.
You will be rewarded with blooms later in the fall.
Chrysanthemums, Pansy, Viola, alyssum, and Snapdragons provide
winter color through the spring and should be available by mid-September at
garden centers. For spring blooms plant Bluebonnet and Poppy seeds now. For a
complete list of Fall Color Annuals.
September is a good time to divide and cut back perennials.
Check your daylilies, irises, and monkey grass while the weather is still warm.
Are you planning to bring your Tropical Hibiscus in this
winter? Place in a sunny window. Before bringing indoors as a precaution spray
plants with Safer Soap and follow package directions.
Preserve excess Basil leaves by pureeing in a blender with ¼
cup of olive oil or water. Pour the mixture in ice trays and use the cubes in
your wintertime Italian dishes.
Spring-flowering bulbs should be on sale. Plan to plant in mid-October
or when the weather cools to the 60’s or below.
Start planning where you will place your Tropical Plants that
spent the summer outdoors. Trim back, if necessary and inspect for insects.
Spray with appropriate insecticide, if needed. I prefer to use horticulture oil
on my houseplants. Horticulture oils are environmentally friendly and will give
your Houseplants a nice shine along with killing any insects. For more
information on Houseplants and tropical plants click here.
Are you planning a fall vegetable garden? Cool weather
vegetable starts such as Arugula, Beets, beans, carrots, radishes, spinach,
kale, brussel sprouts, Broccoli, Collards, Cabbage, Tomatoes, Peppers, green
onions, celery, cutting celery, Chinese cabbage, turnips, swiss chard, lettuce,
cauliflower, bok chop, and Snow Peas are good choices. Don’t have room to plant
a fall vegetable garden, but would like to grow your own vegetables? You can
grow vegetables in a container. The container should be 16 inches or larger and
for excellent success use a potting soil. For more information on Fall Vegetable Gardening Click Here.
The last week in September is the time to replace your mulch
under your Roses and Red Tip Photinia to prevent diseases on next year’s
leaves. Rake up any fallen leaves before replacing the mulch.
As the weather cools, this is a good time to plant shrubs and
trees. When planting in the fall, it provides less stress on the plant and the
roots start to get established in the ground. SuperThrive is the recommended concentrated
solution of plant vitamins and hormones used to encourage plant and root growth
and to revitalize stressed or dying plants. SuperThrive is not a fertilizer and
can be mixed with your favorite liquid fertilizer. Dosage recommendation for transplanting or weekly use: ¼ of a
teaspoon per gallon of water, or for larger projects 3 ounces to 100 gallons of
water. To revitalize stressed or dying
plants use: 1 ounce to five gallons of water and water the root zone or
drip line. Then water every 3 – 5 days ¼ teaspoon to 1 gallon of water at the
root zone or drip line. For bare root
roses use: 1 ½ teaspoons per 5 gallons of water and soak for at least 30
minutes. Depending on your plant’s condition you may use weekly or monthly.
During drought or stressful conditions, it is wise to water
established shrubs and trees. The recommended rate for trees is 15 gallons of
water per each trunk diameter a week. Break up the amount of water to twice a
week and use SuperThrive as recommended above.
I found another good additive to mix with water that will help
get your new transplanted plants established. It is called Recharge from Real
Growers. It’s a professional strength microbial superpack. Recharge helps and
promotes stronger plants within 48 hours. I was skeptical, but I tried it and
it really does work. That’s why I would recommend it when adding new plants to
your landscape. You can mix Superthrive and Recharge together in water for
excellent results.
Bermuda grass seed should be planted no later than September
15th to ensure that the seeds germinate and become established
before winter frost.
Brown Patch fungus is more apparent in the fall months.
Prevention is the best cure by watering your lawn early in the morning before
10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM.
Mid-September is the last feeding for your lawns. Fertilize
your lawn with a winterizer weed and feed to prevent spring-time weeds.
My photography is on display on different websites including
my own HibiscusAndMore.com. The other sites that have my photography
are: www.fineartamerica.com/art/cheryl+meola When you
need images as stock check out the links below.
Need floral stock
photography? Need botanical stock photography? Click on the links below.
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Cheryl+Ann+Meola
https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/210785031/cheryl
Cheryl
has written several gardening books available now on her website HibiscusAndMore.
Topics include Landscape Gardening, Butterfly Gardening, and Houseplants.
Happy Gardening. ©Cheryl Ann
Meola 2025.
All photographs and
digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and
digital images displayed in this newsletter are for viewing purposes only and
cannot be duplicated or copied.
