Tips for the Garden: September

Tips for the Garden: September

Fall is quickly approaching and its time to get the landscape prepared for the changing seasons. September marks a shift in the garden - trees begin to change color and go dormant, perennials start to die back for the year, and mums pop up on front porches.

• Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs, as temperatures drop and plants aren’t as stressed by heat and drought after transplanting. Trees and shrubs can be planted until the ground freezes in winter, so don’t worry about it being too cold for them to thrive!

• Seasonal deliveries arrive at the garden center around this time, offering new choices of trees and shrubs that may have sold out or been unavailable earlier in the spring. If you’re looking for something special, make sure to keep an eye out at this time of year.

• Fall is also a great time to freshen up annuals in your landscape! Replace tired pots and baskets with fresh blooms to help usher in the season. Cold-tolerant plants like pansies, cabbages, and kales can help extend your color later into the season.

• Continue to water, weed, and maintain your garden beds. We’re in the home stretch, and usually by late September it’s time to start putting the landscape away for winter.

• Get your pumpkins, mums, and other fall decor while selection is at its best. Those small additions can add great pops of color and life to a landscape that’s otherwise winding down for the year.