September: Garden Cleanup and Preparation

Fall garden preparation begins with removing dead or diseased plants, refreshing the soil by incorporating amendments, and planting a selection of flowering annuals, vegetables, and herbs for cool-season cultivation (courtesy: kellogggarden.com).

By: John Green- Certified Texas Expert Gardener, Orange, TX

Gardeners, we are in for a much deserved and highly anticipated ‘treat’- perhaps beginning next week! Our weather patterns begin moderating to more “autumn-like” day and evening temperatures which include lower humidity, which suggests fall has arrived (finally)… okay, okay…perhaps I’m overreaching, but one can hope! The seasonal temperature change is a reminder to begin landscape, flower bed, and vegetable garden preparations for fall and winter.  It’s also a great time to make gardens more colorful by adding new fall plantings since summer flowers are rapidly fading. 

September is an ideal time to add shrubs and trees to the landscape. Hydrangeas, roses, and other flowering shrubs and trees flourish during the cooler, moist fall weather. Make certain to do a bit of research before adding plants to the landscape: search for varieties ‘comfortable’ and ‘capable’ of enduring our locales’ climate and which won’t grow too large for the space available (maturity). 

For SETX gardeners (USDA Zones 8b, 9a & 9b), September is an opportune time to transition garden areas from summer ornamentals and crops to fall and winter hardy plants and vegetables. Fall garden preparation begins with removing dead or diseased plants, refreshing the soil by incorporating amendments, and planting a selection of flowering annuals, vegetables, and herbs for cool-season cultivation. The following steps will provide guidance preparing garden areas for the upcoming seasons.

Removal- the best way to prevent insects and diseases from affecting ornamental and vegetable garden areas is to clean it up during the fall. It is important to always remove rotting fruit, diseased foliage, dead vines, and weeds as soon as they appear. This is particularly true with tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, cucumbers, melons, and squash. Pests and diseases enjoy overwintering on these vegetables. Never compost these plants, it is best to incinerate them instead or bag the debris and then place them into waste receptacles for disposal. Otherwise, the risk of pathogens will be introduced into next year’s garden. 

Amendments- are added after the debris and weeds are removed. This step is important for plant health and vitality. Add a 2-inch layer of well-aged, composted manure plus another 2-inch layer of compost atop the existing soil. Using a garden fork, spade (my preference), or rototiller, turn the amendments into the soil, completely incorporating them, and then rake the surface until level and smooth. If the area was mulched previously, spread the soil amendments over the mulch, and then turn everything into the soil. For smaller beds or portions of larger beds it is often easier to simply use a garden fork or spade.

• Removal of dead, dying, and diseased plants and weeds are necessary to minimize vector & pathogen transfer.  
• Our lengthy summer growing season means plants have utilized available nutrients within the soil and the soil requires amendments to improve fertility, structure, and nutrient availability. A soil ‘refresh’ is necessary and accomplished by adding and incorporating layers of compost and well-aged manure. This will replenish nutrients and help with moisture retention.
• Mulch, mulch, mulch. Apply a fresh layer of mulch after new ornamentals or vegetables are planted (transplanted). Mulch is a SETX gardeners’ best friend! Mulch insulates the soil, retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and protects plants from sudden temperature drops. What’s not to love about mulch!!! 

Vegetables- many cool-season crops can be planted in September and for the best results, use transplants for brassicas (cabbage family) and direct-sow seeds for greens and root vegetables. 

Late August–September (direct sow)

• Leafy Greens such as lettuce, spinach, Pak choi, Tatsoi, Swiss chard, and kale grow very well in the cooler fall temperatures and are productive throughout the winter months.  
• Root Vegetables such as carrots, radishes, Daikon, beets, and turnips can be direct seeded in September for a late fall harvest. Radishes mature very quickly.
• Beans varieties (bush and snap) can be planted for a fresh, late-season crop.
• Cucumbers and Squash (varieties of summer squash and cucumbers) can still be planted in early September for a late harvest.
• Remove summer vegetable plants, especially tomatoes, peppers, and squash, along with any weeds to prevent pests and diseases from overwintering in garden areas.

Transplants

• Brassicas: Start with transplants of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. They thrive in the cooler fall and winter months.
• Herbs: Plant herbs like cilantro, parsley, sage, and oregano provide better harvest and are often better suited for Texas’ mild winters rather than its scorching summers. 

Ornamentals– this is an ideal time to add annual ornamentals to the garden areas as focal points. Annuals such as begonia, ageratum, zinnia, and celosia will thrive in the mild autumn temperatures, blooming through early winter. Make certain to water them daily for two weeks until established and adding a 2-inch layer of mulch will maintain consistent soil moisture. For a bold, instant impact, plant chrysanthemums and pansies since both are easy-care plants which relish cooler weather and provide a dramatic, color injection for the fall garden. Select dense, stocky plants that are mostly in bud for an extended bloom time. Mums in full bloom are wonderful as immediate focal points but fade quicker than budded specimens.

• Fall annuals provide instant color to garden beds and containers. Adding mums, pansies, ornamental cabbage, and kale creates an extraordinary aesthetic! 
• Spring bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, crocus, and hyacinths are also ‘forced’ beginning in September. For our region most varieties require pre-chilling in the refrigerator before planting for several weeks (forcing). 
• Bulbs planted ‘en masse’ form a significant, striking display or can be tucked in between established perennials and shrubs for attention. 
• Planting bulbs is simple: dig holes individually, then drop the bulb into the hole (pointy side up) and cover with soil, or dig a large hole, adding a dozen or more bulbs.  Planting en masse provides for an remarkable riot of color.
• Wildflowers should be dispersed into prepared areas now. Sow wildflower seeds like bluebonnets for a spectacular spring display.

Lawns- it’s time to show the lawn some “love” and provide much needed attention this month. September is the month to control perennial weeds such as clover and dandelion.  

• Weeds prepare for winter by extracting nutrients and starches from their leaves and sending them into their roots. 
• Apply lawn herbicides in the fall; weeds will draw the chemical into their roots and die. 
• Southern grasses such as Bahia, Bermudagrass, Zoysia, and St. Augustine should be fertilized this month. 
• Choose a fertilizer which contains controlled-release nitrogen (time released), to feed the turf over an extended time interval. 

Maintenance- continue watering landscape plants to keep new plantings and existing plants watered regularly. Remember that deep soaking is much more effective than daily spraying, especially while temperatures remain high.

• Fertilize new plants with a balanced, organic fertilizer to encourage healthy root growth and development.
• Prepare houseplants for their transition indoors. If you are like me, this is going to take a substantial amount of time over several weekends. Start moving houseplants to new outdoor areas to new outdoor areas that don’t receive as much light, in preparation to indoor environments.
• Houseplants that have enjoyed the outdoors for the summer must be transitioned before returning them inside, and this must occur before the 1^st frost. 
• Check them for birds, lizards, frogs, insects, and disease, Repot if necessary, and rinse before migrating them indoors.

So long for now fellow gardeners! Let’s go out and grow ourselves a greener, more sustainable world, one plant at a time! Gardening questions answered: jongreene57@gmail.com.