September Gardening Calendar 2025

 

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 15^th 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.

 

Petals and Profit: Turning a Flower Garden Into a Thriving Business

 

Petals and Profit: Turning a Flower Garden Into a Thriving Business

Photo via Pexels

You probably didn’t plant a sprawling flower garden with profit in mind. Maybe it started with a few rows of peonies and dahlias, then grew, season after season, into a vibrant, living canvas of color. But now that your garden stops passersby in their tracks and fills your mornings with the buzz of bees and the hum of potential, you might be wondering how to turn all that beauty into a business. The answer lies in seeing every bloom as both art and asset—balancing what’s beautiful with what’s bankable, without losing the soul of your garden.

Start with the Stems: Selling Fresh-Cut Bouquets

There’s no quicker route to revenue than harvesting what’s already growing. Arranging and selling fresh-cut bouquets through local farmers markets or subscription flower services brings in immediate income and gives your garden a foothold in the community. You can go beyond the standard floral fare and highlight seasonal, lesser-known varieties that add charm and narrative to each bouquet. Pair that with hand-dyed wrapping paper or recyclable packaging, and you’ll have a product that’s not only lovely but also aligned with modern sustainability values.

Design Your Own Bloom Bar

Flower lovers often crave more than just arrangements—they want interaction. Setting up a “bloom bar” for private events like birthdays, bridal showers, or team-building sessions creates a hands-on floral experience. You provide the stems, the tools, and the guidance, and guests build their own take-home creations. It’s equal parts social, educational, and sensory, and it lets people step directly into your garden’s magic, transforming your space into a working studio for joy.

Host Workshops That Dig Deeper

Floral design is just one aspect of what your garden can teach. Hosting intimate workshops on topics like soil regeneration, composting, or pollinator gardening turns your passion into knowledge-sharing and positions you as a thought leader. These sessions don’t need to be overly technical—just thoughtful and rooted in what you’ve learned through practice. People want to feel connected to the land again, and your garden can be the bridge that invites them in without pretense or pressure.

Make Room for the Lens: Rent It Out for Photography

With a backdrop as cinematic as a flower garden in full bloom, you’re sitting on a potential goldmine for photographers. You can rent your space by the hour to portrait photographers, influencers, wedding clients, and content creators looking for natural beauty without artificial sets. To keep things fresh, create designated photo areas that rotate with the season, offering new scenes and colors as the year unfolds. It’s passive income that also turns your garden into a local landmark for beauty.

Lean Into Agri-Tourism With Seasonal Events

Think of your garden not just as a place to grow flowers, but as a destination. Hosting seasonal events like tulip festivals, sunset garden picnics, or moonlight strolls can bring in families, couples, and tourists hungry for outdoor experiences. Add live music, local food vendors, or even yoga classes among the blossoms to give guests more reasons to stay—and spend. Done right, these experiences build community and brand loyalty while still being grounded in your original love for plants.

Create a Dried Flower Product Line

Fresh blooms are fleeting, but dried flowers offer a longer shelf life and wider creative scope. From wreaths and garlands to pressed flower bookmarks and framed botanical art, your garden’s second act can be just as vibrant. You can sell these items online or through local boutiques, always weaving in the story of your garden’s origins and ethos. The key is in the curation—choose pieces that reflect a mood, a memory, or a message, not just a collection of stems.

Build Up Your Business Skills

If you're ready to treat your garden like a serious business, developing strong business skills can help you get there faster and smarter. For those looking to formalize their knowledge while keeping their hands in the soil, this is a good pick for earning a business bachelor’s degree that supports both growth and grit. Whether it's understanding how to track expenses, price products, or navigate the logistics of scaling operations, financial literacy and strategic thinking can turn your passion project into a sustainable venture.

The transition from gardener to entrepreneur doesn’t mean trading in passion for profit. It means recognizing that your garden can be both sanctuary and business, a place where creativity thrives alongside smart strategy. When you center sustainability, community, and authentic experiences, you don’t just grow flowers—you grow trust, wonder, and a living income.

Discover the beauty of nature with exquisite fine art prints and unique greeting cards at Hibiscus and More, where every piece is a celebration of the natural world!

Cheryl Meola’s Plant Photography on Merchandise. The website features clothing, home décor, puzzles, and greeting cards to customize for any occasion. https://cherylann-meola.pixels.com

Floral & Foliage Stock Photography.  Stock Photography.

Botanical & Seasonal Stock Photography. Stock Photography.

©David Dixon 2025

July Gardening Calendar 2024

July Gardening Calendar

Extreme heat began earlier this year than previous years. In the past five years, each summer we currently break last year’s record.  Extreme temperatures were recorded around the world in June 2024 and we have two to three more months of the summer. Currently there are 11 states that are under extreme heat warnings: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. 

Lantana camara ‘Miss Huff’

The CDC recommends these precautions for anyone who is involved in outdoor work or activities during extreme heat weather. Drink plenty of water and don’t wait until you are thirsty. Avoid alcohol and sugary drinks. Always where sunscreen and reapply as directed on label. Try to avoid working in mid-day heat and ask if the task can be rescheduled. Where loose fit clothing in light colors. Dri-fit is a brand of clothing that helps keep one cool during work or exercising. Where a large, brimmed hat to help keep one cool. Try to go to air conditioning or shady location during breaks. Keep an eye on your co-workers and encourage them to take breaks to drink water and cool off. For more information this is a link to the CDC website: CDC

Summer gardening tasks to do in one’s landscape, if living in one of the states mentioned for extreme heat try to in morning hours or early evening.

Watermelon – Choosing a summer watermelon for ripeness is as simple as slapping or knocking on it. The good ripe one’s sound hollow, and the unripe one’s sound like solid wood.

Flowering annuals and perennials – Such as Salvia, Zinnia, Coneflower, and Petunia, remove faded flowers to encourage bushiness and more flower production. Plant sun and heat tolerant annuals. Tropicals are a good choice because the plants now how to beat the summer heat and tropicals will reward you with lots of blooms and color.

Dahlias – The last week in July trim your plants back by half of their height to producannualse fall blooms. Fertilize with a flowering plant food.

Pink and Blue Hydrangeas – Remove faded flower stems. Trim shorten droopy, flowerless stems by 1/3. New growth that occurs now through winter will produce next summer’s blooms.

Herbs – Now is a good time to trim back Basil, Mint, and Oregano by half to prevent flowering and seed production. This will produce tastier leaves to use later.

Summer Vegetables – The plants will stop flower production when just one ripe cucumber, squash, or okra are left on the plant. Pick your summer vegetables on a regular basis to prevent this.

Fall Vegetables – Plant peppers, corn, cucumbers, squash, bush beans, and fall tomatoes. For tomatoes use the small to medium sized varieties.

Houseplants, Patio Pots, and Hanging Baskets – Check plants that are spending the summer outdoors for insects. Use an insecticidal soap, if needed. Your houseplants can be fertilized by-weekly with a water-soluble plant food. For more information on Houseplants order Cheryl’s book from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Grow-Fresh-Air-Pollution-Houseplants-ebook/dp/B0C72T954R/ref=sr_1_2?crid=DFC3HN5ZOBD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.b0hx7eqbc4AFD0gxuEX2FcFWYnG__m4-Hm2Vp20fyMKjW1swwyOkfcWhsfFkPUPz.i0bTjxtksoTYMiO-BtM7JGX-PUbqO5Nsfo_oFKc0kf8&dib_tag=se&keywords=cheryl+ann+meola+books&qid=1720116434&s=books&sprefix=cheryl+ann+meola%2Cstripbooks%2C146&sr=1-2

Trees and Shrubs – Newly Spring planted trees and shrubs should be watered 2 gallons of water per foot of plant height. For more information on Landscape Gardening, you can order Cheryl’s book here. https://www.amazon.com/Southeast-Style-Gardening-Garden-Designs/dp/B08YNXJGMB/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.b0hx7eqbc4AFD0gxuEX2FcFWYnG__m4-Hm2Vp20fyMKjW1swwyOkfcWhsfFkPUPz.i0bTjxtksoTYMiO-BtM7JGX-PUbqO5Nsfo_oFKc0kf8&qid=1720116599&sr=1-3

Figs – Remove the tallest shoots in the middle first, then prune the rest of the fig lightly. The horizontal branches produce the best fruit.

New Turf – There is 6 to 7 weeks to start your project on laying or replacing turf grasses. The grass needs to be well-rooted before the cool weather starts, which is shortly after daylight savings time ends. It usually takes 10-15 days to get the grass established.

The Monarchs need our help. For more information on Butterfly Gardening, Cheryl has written Gardening for the Butterflies available on Amazon. Click Here. Click Here.

Hibiscus and More offers fine art prints of Cheryl Meola’s plant photography. Fine Art Prints. Fine Art Prints.

Cheryl Meola’s Plant Photography Merchandise. Click Here.

Floral & Foliage Stock Photography.  Stock Photography.

Botanical & Seasonal Stock Photography. Stock Photography.

Hibiscus and More offers fine art prints of Cheryl Meola’s plant photography. Fine Art Prints. Fine Art Prints.

Cheryl Meola’s Plant Photography Merchandise. Click Here.

Floral & Foliage Stock Photography.  Stock Photography.

Botanical & Seasonal Stock Photography. Stock Photography.

Have a wonderful summer. Stay hydrated, keep cool, go to shade when you start feel weak.

©Cheryl Ann Meola 2024