Lawn and Garden Life: September
Sad to say, it’s time to think about wrapping up the garden for the winter, and prepping your lawn for spring.
You likely still have some veggies to harvest and preserve. Enjoy those and make some notes for your crop rotation next year! Here are a few specific ideas.
September To-Do Lists
For Your Vegetable Garden
• Turn over your compost pile. The biggest benefit from turning your compost pile is directly related to when you turn it. The more frequently you turn the pile (with at least two weeks in between), the faster decomposition will be. Turning the pile allows air to flow through, providing oxygen to the microbes that aid in decomposition. To assist in decomposition, we recommend using Espoma Compost Starter, which is a 100% bio-organic mix.
• Take cuttings from plants you want to propagate.
• Consider planting a cover crop to avoid winter soil erosion.
• Bulbs. Bulbs. Bulbs: Plant your fall bulbs now to enjoy an array of color next spring. Stop by any CountryMax Store today to purchase your high-quality bulbs from Netherland Bulb Company. Tulips, Allium, Crocus and more are in stock. Pick up yours before they are gone.
• Stop watering evergreen and deciduous trees in late September. Once the leaf-bearing trees drop their leaves you can start watering again.
• Divide your perennials as needed.
• Harvest any gourds or pumpkins before a frost or they will become discolored. Light frost doesn’t hurt squash fruits, but it will kill the leaves. When you see the leaves die, it’s time.
• Harvest fall fruits and vegetables sometime soon – before the first frost. That normally happens in late October or early November around here.
For Your Flower Garden
• Divide and Transplant: Fall is a great time to divide and transplant your perennials. Astilbe, Bee Balm, Black Eyed Susan, Daylily and Hosta are just a handful of the many perennials you should divide every 3 to 5 years. Remember to amend your existing soil with your favorite planting mix. Using a root stimulator such as Bonide Root-N-Grow will help lessen transplant shock and stimulate strong root development.
• Cut back any perennials that have bloomed, and trim off any dead vegetation.
• Dig up and store your tender bulbs.
• Plant fall-flowering annuals, such as mums!
For Your Lawn
Fall Is for Planting: Trees, shrubs and perennials that are container-grown can be planted from early to mid-fall. You should plant early enough in fall for the root system to establish itself in the new soil (plan on at least six weeks before first frost). Before winter sets in, check weekly and water if dry. A thick layer of mulch will keep them from heaving out of the ground during periods of freezing and thawing. For any container-grown plant, loosen the roots before planting. Using a planting mix such as Coast Of Maine Compost Blend or Fox Farm Original Planting Mix will also help with root establishment.
Seed or Re-Seed: Most of our lawns are "cool season," which include Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and fescues. Because these grasses grow best in cool weather, late summer to early fall is an ideal time to plant a new lawn, patch bare areas, or overseed an existing lawn. Quick Grow Seed or Sun & Shade mix might be exactly the perfect blend for your lawn. Grass seed must receive regular watering, especially until it begins to germinate. This is more likely to happen naturally in fall rather than in spring, when the new grass must withstand hot summer days. Newly planted seed should be mulched with a light layer of straw.
Yes, September is time for chrysanthemums.
They extend summer by brightening our porches and landscapes with color. Yes, CountryMax has mums on sale! See our ad for mum-tastic savings.
There are a few things you can do in fall if you want a thriving bird community. Plant native trees such as red maple or birch, which support insect life such as caterpillars to provide food for birds. Trees create a habitat for nesting and protection from predators, as do conifers, dense shrubs and grasses. All are perfect for planting in fall. Leave seed heads on perennials such as cone flower which is a great food source to sustain non-migratory birds in the fall and winter. Cut those plants back in early spring. Put in a bird feeder or two. Check out our wide array of bird feeders. Adding a feeder to your garden will help supplement the food birds usually gather from plants
Add roses to your garden today, whether in a well-drained bed or planted in your favorite container. CountryMax has a wide variety of roses for your gardening pleasure. Remember, we carry all the supplies needed to aide in your rose enjoyment and success.
What's Crop Rotation?
In your home vegetable garden, crop rotation is as simple as changing the location of veggies each season.
What are the Advantages?
You’ll reduce damage from insect pests, limit development of diseases and boost soil fertility.
For Crop Rotation to be Most Effective:
DO NOT plant an area with vegetables or cover crops/green manures from the same plant family more than once every three to four years.
How Does it Work?
• Each vegetable is part of a plant family.
• Plants in the same family are susceptible to similar pests and diseases.
• When plants in the same family are grown year after year in the same spot, they give pests a reliable food source.
• Crop rotation helps keep pest and pathogen numbers low.
• It also improves the fertility and nutrients of the soil in that area.
MAX Pro Tip:
Keep a garden log or map as a reminder of where your vegetables are planted each year.