September
GARDENING TO-DO LIST
Planting Guide
- Fall is in the air. Refresh container gardens with snapdragons, dianthus, mums, petunias, lobelia, crotons & more.
- Get your transplants in your fall vegetable garden. Early September is your last chance to get tomatoes and peppers in the ground. Cool-season vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, mustard, lettuce, and kohlrabi can be planted September through January, look for seeds or transplants to add to your garden.
Pests
Blast off sucking insects (aphids, mealybugs, etc) with water and/or spray with insecticidal soap. Leaf miners are active on citrus, they will not kill your citrus, leave alone or alternate treatments of spinosad and neem to keep them at bay. BT will get rid of cabbage loopers. Insects such as chinch bugs and fungal diseases on lawns (grey leaf spot) are two things to watch out for. Organic treatment products can be found in our plant care shed.
Mulch
Mulching keeps plant roots cooler, weed seeds at bay, and conserves water. Apply 3” deep around trees and shrubs. Add compost around annuals, herbs, and vegetables. Do not mound mulch against the base of a plant, this only invites insects and fungus to come in contact with the crown of plants
Hummingbirds
Migrating hummingbirds can be found at your feeders and natural nectar sources. Keeping feeders clean, filled, and in a shady area will encourage visitors.
Recipe for Nectar: Bring 4 cups of water to a boil, add 1 cup of granulated sugar, stir until dissolved. Allow to cool, fill feeders. Keep excess sealed in refrigerator.(no need to add red food coloring)
Natural nectar sources for hummingbirds: Turk’s cap, Hamelia, Shrimp plant, Firespike, Salvia, Lobelia (cardinal flower), Mexican oregano, Pride of Barbados, Anisacanthus, and cigar plants. These are all hummer magnets.
Water
Maintain watering on newly planted seeds and transplants, use a rain wand to avoid disturbing plants with small root systems. On St. Augustine and other lawns, water well but less often. With shorter days and cooler nights – begin to reduce the amount of water applied as needed. Avoid watering in the evenings if possible to prevent fungal diseases.
