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September Gardening Tasks

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Fall Is In The Air At Last

Summer finally begins to wind down in the hot regions of the country and nippy weather has begun in the colder regions. Believe it or not, it's still a busy time in the garden.

Now is the time for long season gardeners to put in their Fall gardens. Short season gardeners in the cold northern areas are putting their garden beds down for the season.

Here are some other garden jobs that need attention this month to ensure a happy, healthy garden year round.

September Gardening Tasks For All Zones

These are tasks that almost all zones can do this month:

  • Start cleaning out the flower beds, cutting away or removing anything that's diseased and cutting back anything that's finished it's blooming period.
  • Clean greenhouse glass in the Fall.
  • Check pesticides and fertilizers and store them in a well ventilated secure area.
  • Clean and store your gardening tools. Make sure they are clean and sharpened. Wood handles can be painted to protect them from drying out.
  • Drain and store hoses for the winter, unless you're in an area where you still need them.
  • Perennials that are overgrown or crowded should be divided now. The divisions can be planted in other areas of the garden. New perennials can also be planted this month.
  • Fall is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. It gives them time to get their root system established before spring growth starts. If it's dry, make sure they get enough water.
  • Donate your surplus fruits and vegetables to a local homeless shelter or food bank.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Hardiness Zones -- Details Below Map

Zones 2-10 in the map have been subdivided into light- and dark-colored sections (a and b) that represent 5 F (2.8 C) differences within the 10 F (5.6 C) zone. The light color of each zone represents the colder section; the dark color, the warmer section. Zone 11 represents any area where the average annual minimum temperature is above 40 F (4.4 C).

The map shows 20 latitude and longitude lines. Areas above an arbitrary elevation are traditionally considered unsuitable for plant cropping and do not bear appropriate zone designations. There are also island zones that, because of elevation differences, are warmer or cooler than the surrounding areas and are given a different zone designation.

Note that many large urban areas carry a warmer zone designation than the surrounding countryside. The map-contains as much detail as possible, considering the vast amount of data on which it is based and its size.

Source And More Information At: The United States National Arboretum, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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Fiskars 9921 Softouch Micro-Tip Pruning Snip

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USDA Hardiness Zones 1 - 4

Short Seasons

  • Make sure to cover tender plants when frost is forecast.
  • Give compost a last turn. Keep it watered during dry periods to keep it active.
  • Bring in any houseplants that have been outside. Clean out any extra clay pots and store in a dry area to prevent cracking from temperatures. The debris can go in the compost pile unless diseased.
  • Now is the perfect time to grab a gardening book and some catalogs to plan next years garden and sharpen your skills.
  • When the ground temperature reaches 60 degrees, spring flowering bulbs can be planted. Give them a boost by working bone meal or bulb fertilizer into the holes as you plant.

Fall Colors Mousepad

Fall colors mousepad mousepad

Handy Gardening References

National Arboretum - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
The 2003 US National Arboretum "Web Version" of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map; USDA Miscellaneous Publication No. 1475, Issued January 1990
Garden Guide: Outdoor Planting Table - The Old Farmer's Almanac
This outdoor planting table shows 1) Planting Dates that reflect safe periods for planting in areas that receive frost and 2) Moon-Favorable periods. For above-ground crops, plant during the light of the Moon (new to full Moon); for below-ground crops, plant during the dark of the Moon (from the day after it's full to the day before it's new again). See our Moon Phase Calendar for these times in your area.
Organic Gardening
Learn how to use natural methods to grow the freshest food.
Gardening Resources :: National Gardening Association
Information and inspiration on gardening with answers to questions about lawns, landscapes, trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vegetables, herbs and flowers, organic gardens, compost, urban, soil, design, roses, tomato, how to grow in containers.

In all things of nature there is something marvelous.
-Aristotle

USDA Hardiness Zones 5-7

Mid-Length Seasons

In addition to the general gardening tasks above, Zones 5-7 should tend to the following tasks as well:
  • Spray kudzu with an herbicide, or mow all foliage.
  • To reduce mosquito populations, make sure bird baths and pet bowls are changed frequently.
  • As fall clean-up time approaches, start a compost bin. Once composted, debris can become a rich soil additive for your garden.
  • Stop fertilizing trees and flowering shrubs to let them harden off before cold temperatures arrive.
  • September is a good month for lawn care. This is a good time to thatch if needed, overseed bare patches in old lawns, seed or sod new lawns and fertilize with a slow release fertilizer.

This is a good time to grab a good read & plan ahead!

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USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11

Long Seasons

In addition to the general gardening tasks above, Zones 8-11 should tend to the following tasks as well:
  • September is a good month for lawn care. This is a good time to thatch if needed, overseed bare patches in old lawns, seed or sod new lawns and fertilize with a slow release fertilizer.
  • Spray kudzu with an herbicide, or mow all foliage.
  • To reduce mosquito populations, make sure bird baths and pet bowls are changed frequently.
  • Start the Fall vegetable garden. Start seeds of heat lovers like tomatoes and peppers. Direct sow seeds of lettuce, greens, onions, peas, beans and broccoli.
  • Plant perennials and shrubs.
  • Plant Fall bulbs.

Fall Colours Greeting Card

Send some Fall greeting cards

Fall Colours card

Kind hearts are the garden,

kind thoughts are the root,

kind words are the blossoms,

kind deeds are the fruit.

Don't forget the birdies!

Many birds will begin their winter migration soon.

You can help them by providing food, shelter and water for their trip. You never know who you'll see stopping by for a visit!
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Farmers' Almanac Advice Of The Day

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Anvil blade with deep sap groove to prevent sticking; shock absorbers reduce wrist fatigue

Felco F-2 Classic Manual Hand Pruner

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Original Felco design; unchanged for over sixty years. Solid-forged metal alloy handles are complemented by a Swiss precision made hardened cutting blade (replaceable) and an anvil blade with a sap groove. A hardened bolt and nut assure exact adjustment of both the cutting and anvil blades. A rubber cushion and shock absorber provide smooth working and soft closing of this pruner. Length 8.5".

To cultivate a garden is to walk with God
-Christian Bovee

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