Here are the things to do for your garden in September. Taken from the Ontario Master Gardener Calendar by John Hethrington, Past President, Master Gardeners of Ontario. For more information, or your own copy of the 11” x 17” calendar of the full year’s tips, for a $1 contribution to Master Gardeners, please contact John.
September 2020:
- Fall is the ideal time to divide and plant perennials, particularly Iris, Daylilies, Peonies and many other perennials. Share extra plants with neighbors.
- Buy and plant spring flowering bulbs. You will be rewarded next spring. Check out Botanus on line at www.botanus.com. Add a little bone-meal fertilizer or special bulb food to the bottom of the planting hole. Water well after planting to start root growth.
- Fill in any gaps that may have developed in your garden with new perennials, shrubs and evergreens.
- Bring in house plants when the evenings start to cool down. First give them a thorough spray with insecticidal soap so that there are no unwanted hitchhikers coming into your home.
- With cool nights and fall rains, it’s the ideal time for lawn repair. Dig out weeds, add clean, weed-free topsoil and re-seed.
- Fertilize lawns with root building “Fall Fertilizer” with a low first number (nitrogen) and a high third number (potash).
- Don’t use the lawn fertilizer you have left over from the spring, probably with a high first number (nitrogen). Save it for early next spring.
- Trim back perennials and divide them as needed. Make sure it is a cool, cloudy day to divide and replant – add Bone Meal when planting and water well.
- Even with the rain we have had, water perennials, shrubs, evergreens and trees deeply. Dig a little test hole, say 14” deep. Check moisture levels. If the hole is dry, water weekly until frost.
John Hethrington, Past President, Master Gardeners of Ontario
Beaver Valley Probus Club