September

Plant

• ​​Lawns - reseed or think about changes friendly to pollinators and water usage. Maybe devote some lawn to wildflower space, meadow plants, natives.
• Wildflower meadows: scatter seeds on well prepared ground that has been raked lightly. Allow rainfall to germinate seed.
  
• Plant peonies and tree peonies about a month before the first date.
• Plant and transport evergreen trees and shrubs but wait until after leaf fall for transplanting deciduous trees/shrubs.
• Plant and transplant perennials and ornamental grasses.
  
• Plant and transplant Japanese and Siberian iris.
  

Light Pruning and Chores

• Clip hedges for the last time this season. Keep the base of the hedge wider than the top.
• Prune only for a good reason - to remove elongated growth, to remove broken branches, to remove dead and diseased wood and to encourage fullness and flowering.​
• Deadhead blooms from roses. 
• Prepare beds for lily bulbs. Lilies need good drainage and they like partial shade during the day. Prepare the bed and then let it rest for at least a week before planting.
• Prepare new beds for fall and spring planting.
• Prepare greenhouses and/or cold frames for winter use.​​

Fertilize and Mulch

• Mulching beds improves soil texture and helps the bed retain moisture during dry spells and insulates during cold spells.
• Applying 3 to 4 inches of mulch helps keep weed growth down.
• Pine needles, straw and ground leaves make excellent mulch.​​

Chores

• Clean up and weed garden beds.​
• Keep tools sharp and clean after use.​

Tips: 

• Water if needed if the weather is dry. ​
• Remember your garden journal. Plan your fall planting and start making plans for your spring planting. Take photographs of your garden all year long.
• ​A ripe apple placed in a closed container with green tomatoes will encourage the tomatoes to turn red.  ​ 
• Wear gloves for all of your gardening and yard chores;  protect your skin from sun, dirt, bugs, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and other plant toxins.  ​

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Thanks to Suzanne Aiello who compiled these tips for the Dolley Madison Garden Club.