September Weather Statistics
Average
daily high: 86 degrees
Average daily low: 64 degrees
Average rainfall: 4.17 inches
• Try rooting geraniums now for color next summer. Take
4-inch cuttings of terminal growth, making an angled cut
just below a node. Dip the cut end into rooting hormone.
Use a pencil to poke a hole in moistened potting medium
then insert the cutting. Water well and place the pot in a
plastic bag and close the top with a twist tie. Keep out of
direct sunlight until rooting occurs (in two to three
weeks), then remove the pot from the bag and place it in a
sunny window in a cool room (55 – 65 degrees). Pinch the
young plants back at least once for bushier growth.
• Now is the time to take action against the winter annual
weeds that would spoil your spring landscape. Chickweed,
henbit, deadnettle and annual bluegrass can all be
controlled in shrub and perennial borders before they
become a nuisance by the timely application of a
pre-emergence herbicide containing Treflan.
• Sow seeds of hardy annual flowers now, including poppies,
calendula, sweet alyssum and larkspur. Plant now so the
seedlings will have time to develop good root systems
before the coldest part of winter. Keep in mind, however,
that pre-emergence herbicides will kill flower seedlings
just as well as weeds.
• Spray out cattails in farm ponds now. Use Rodeo and
remember to read and follow all label directions carefully.
• Now is the best time to reseed, over seed and start new
fescue lawns. Over seed at the rate of 3 to 4 pounds per
1,000 square feet. Sow new cool-season lawns in prepared
ground at the rate of 7 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
• For extended green, over seed warm-season (Bermuda grass
or Zoysia grass) lawns with annual rye grass now. Make sure
you buy annual rye grass seed and sow at the rate of 7 to
10 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
• Harvest sweet potatoes in late September or early October
(before first frost). Plant mustard, onion sets and
radishes until the middle of the month. Sow onion seeds all
month. Plant garlic now for harvest next year.
• Be on the lookout for fall webworms whose unappealing
work adorns the ends of tree branches this time of year.
Although fall webworms feed on more than 600 species of
trees, their local favorites are sourwood, persimmon and
pecan. Insecticidal sprays can’t penetrate, but you can
disrupt their lifecycle by pulling down and opening up the
webs.
• Spark up fading color beds with chrysanthemums and
asters. Your local garden center should have lots of
colorful choices to take you into fall.
• Order spring-flowering bulbs now for planting in late
fall. Worried about voles chowing down on your bulbs?
Instead of tulips, try any and all members of the genus
Narcissus, which includes daffodils and jonquils. There are
hundreds of cultivars from which to choose.
• Harvest herbs to preserve for winter use. Use your
microwave oven to dry herbs. Heat them between paper towels
for about one minute, or until the leaves are crisp. Chives
store well in the freezer. Alternatively, pot up chives,
parsley and other herbs in six-inch containers to grow in a
sunny window.
• Plant mustard, onion sets and radishes until the middle
of the month. Sow onion seeds all month. Harvest sweet
potatoes in late September or early October – before first
frost.
• Consider planting a cover crop or ‘green manure’ this
fall in unused garden space. It’s a great way to improve
soil fertility and structure. Choose crimson clover,
Austrian winter pea, rough or common, smooth and hairy
vetch. Plant at least a month before the first killing
frost. In the spring, turn under your cover crop three
weeks before planting your garden.
• Now is the best time to reseed, overseed and start new
fescue lawns. Overseed at the rate of 3-4 pounds per 1,000
square feet. Sow new cool-season lawns in prepared ground
at the rate of 7 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Fertilize
established cool-season lawns this month. Use a balanced
fertilizer and apply at the rate of one pound of actual
nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.
• Overseed warm-season (Bermuda or zoysia) lawns with
annual ryegrass now for dormant season green. Sow annual
ryegrass at the rate of 7 to 10 pounds per 1,000 square
feet.
• If chickweed, henbit and other winter annual weeds
spoiled your spring landscape, treat the garden now to keep
them out. Apply a pre-emergence herbicide containing
Treflan to flower beds and natural areas.
• Sow seeds of hardy annual flowers now. California,
Iceland and Shirley poppies, calendula, calliopsis, sweet
alyssum, larkspur and pinks, to name a few. Planting now
will give the seedlings time to get established and develop
good root systems before the coldest part of winter so
they’ll have a head start in spring
• Take cuttings of tender annuals such as coleus,
geraniums, impatiens and wax begonia. Take 3-4-inch
cuttings and make an angled cut just below a node. Remove
all but the topmost leaf. Dip the cut end into a rooting
hormone. In a container filled with moistened potting
medium, make a hole using a pencil, then insert the cutting
in the hole and gently tamp the soil around the cutting.
• If you haven’t done so yet, get busy and order those
spring-flowering bulbs for planting in late fall. Buy
top-quality bulbs as it is generally true that bigger is
better when it comes to bulbs.
• Dig, divide and replant overcrowded beds of beebalm,
daylilies, cheddar pinks, Shasta daisies and thread leaf
coreopsis. Mix a liberal amount of organic matter into the
soil to a depth of six to eight inches. Space divisions at
least 1 foot apart in all directions.
• Harvest sweet potatoes in late September or early October
(before first frost). Plant mustard, onion sets and
radishes until the middle of the month. Sow onion seeds all
month. Harvest garlic when the tops die down. Cure the
bulbs for 4 - 6 weeks in a warm, dry, shady location with
good air circulation. Plant new garlic cloves now and mulch
them well.
• Harvest herbs to dry for winter use. Freeze chives. Take
cuttings for a windowsill garden. Try layering leaves of
basil with salt in airtight container, making sure each
leaf is completely covered. The salt will dry and preserve
the basil flavor for an extended period.
• This is the month to get started on your own home
strawberry patch. Some varieties recommended for growing in
our area are Sweet Charlie, Titan, and Tristar.
• Now is the best time to reseed, overseed and start new
fescue lawns. Overseed at the rate of 3 - 4 pounds per
1,000 square feet. Sow new cool-season lawns in prepared
ground at the rate of 7 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
• Overseed warm-season (Bermuda or zoysia) lawns with
annual ryegrass now for dormant season green. Sow annual
ryegrass at the rate of 7 to 10 pounds per 1,000 square
feet.
• Take care of the winter annual weeds that spoil your
spring landscape by applying a pre-emergent herbicide
containing Treflan (Preen). Use Rodeo to spray out cattails
in farm ponds now. Remember to follow all label directions
carefully.
• Be sure the hummingbird feeder is clean and filled for
migrating birds on their way to their winter homes.
Remember the formula: four parts water to one part sugar.
• Get out your catalogs and order spring-flowering bulbs
for planting in late fall and winter. Buy top-quality
bulbs, as it is generally true that bigger bulbs produce
better flowers.
• If the summer heat has blasted the color right out of
your flowerbeds, punch things up by adding some instant
color with chrysanthemums Ð your favorite garden center has
stocked up for you.
• Spray the trunks and limbs of peaches and plums with
Thiodan for control of the peach tree borer.
