Plants in Flower

Fertilizing

• September: See Lawn Care
• October: Spring-flowering bulbs at planting time with a balanced fertilizer

Planting

• Set out landscape plants. Shop early to find the nicest shrubs.
• When planting containerized plants in the landscape, make sure to break up the plants’ root ball, especially if it is pot bound.
• Set out new chrysanthemum plants this month.
• Plant pansies to add color to your yard in the autumn, winter, and spring months.
• Groundcovers will become well established if planted now.
• Transplant any evergreen trees or shrubs that need moving this month.
• Plant fall vegetables like mustard, onion, radish, and turnip.

• Plant spring-flowering bulbs like daffodil, tulip, crocus, and hyacinth.
• Continue setting out pansies, new plants perennials, or transplanting.
• If you don’t have a fall vegetable crop, plant cover crops like hairy vetch, winter rye, and crimson clover.
• Start salad vegetables in a cold frame & enjoy all winter. Plant lettuce, green onions, carrots, radishes, and most leafy greens inside cold frame.

Pruning

• Consider leaving seed heads of perennials like black-eyed Susan and coneflower as food for wildlife this winter!
• Do NOT prune shrubs in September or October.
• Remove “weed” or unnecessary trees from your landscape.
• Root-prune any trees or plants you plan to move next spring.
• Cut back any herbaceous perennials with spent flowers and after frost kills the tops.

Spraying

• Spray landscape shrubs for the following insect pests: arborvitae, hemlock, and juniper (spider mites), azalea and pyracantha (lace bug), and euonymus (scale)
• Spray for peachtree borer on your nectarine and peachtree trunks.
• Continue with rose spray program.
• Scout fall vegetable plants. Insects and diseases are more severe in the autumn.
• Control woody weeds by spraying the recommended herbicide.
• Store garden pesticides in a secured, dry location that will not freeze. 

 Lawn Care

• Take a soil sample!! Free analysis until December 1!
• Tall fescue and bluegrass lawns should be seeded in (September). Remember to mulch the newly seeded areas with wheat or barley straw. Keep watered.
• Fertilize and lime your tall fescue lawns according to soil test results (September).
• Do NOT fertilize zoysia now.
• Homeowners can apply an insecticide for lawn grubs in early September if needed.
• Keep tree leaves from collecting on your lawn.

Propagation

• Divide and replant perennials, spring-flowering bulbs & peonies (September–early October) once foliage begins to die back.
• Dig and divide rhubarb (October).

Specific Chores

• Clean up garden sprayers and lawn equipment if not in use.
• Prepare houseplants to reenter your home. Check them carefully for insect pests.
• If you do not have a fall vegetable garden, it is a good time to chop, burn, or discard dead vegetable plants.
• Start filling your compost bin as leaves begin to fall.
• Prepare bird feeders.
• Dig and store summer bulbs like gladioli, dahlia, and caladium before frost
• Dig sweet potatoes before frost kills the plants.