September Gardening Tips
go.ncsu.edu/readext?725200
en Español / em Português
El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.
Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.
Português
Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.
Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.
English
English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.
Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.
Collapse ▲As fall is just around the corner, September is a great time to start prepping your garden for cooler weather. Use these gardening tips below to enjoy being in the garden this fall:
Lawn
- Do not apply any more nitrogen to lawns; it is time for lawns to slow down growth for winter.
- If your soil test report showed low potassium levels, apply a high potassium fertilizer such as 0-0-50 (2 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.) by mid-September.
- Days are getting shorter and cooler. Start cutting back on irrigation this month.
- If your lawn had problems with large patch in the spring, treat this fall with a fungicide.
Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers
- Some years we see a trend of having a dry fall month around October. If we do have a dry spell in the fall months, be sure to water trees and shrubs if soil appears dry. Especially keep a close eye on those that were planted within the last year.
- Plant pansies and other winter annuals from mid-September through mid-October to get established before frost.
- Resist the urge to do any major pruning in the fall. Fall pruning depletes food reserves needed to initiate spring growth. Only prune out dead, dying or diseased branches.
- Save seeds from favorite self-pollinating annual flowers such as marigolds and zinnias by allowing the flower heads to mature. Lay seeds on newspaper and turn them often to dry. Store dry seeds in glass jars, envelopes or paper bags in a cool, dry, dark place.
- Fungal leaf spot diseases are common on trees and shrubs in fall but rarely need to be treated.
- September is a good time to divide and transplant spring-blooming perennials.
- Did you keep last year’s poinsettia? You can get it to flower by placing it in total uninterrupted darkness for 15 hours a day, starting the last week of September and continuing until colored bracts appear. Give them plenty of sunlight during the day.
Fruit, Vegetables, and Herbs
- Set out broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, collard, lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard transplants in early September.
- Sow dill and cilantro for fall harvest.
- Muscadine grapes start ripening now and continue through the fall.
- Fall is a good time for improving your garden soil. Add manure, compost, and leaves to increase organic matter content.
- Watch out for caterpillars and aphids on fall vegetable crops.
Jessica Strickland is an Agriculture Extension Agent, specializing in horticulture for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Wayne County.
Learn More!
- Sign up for Wayne County Extension Gardening email list to receive timely gardening tips.
- Learn more by following us on Facebook and Instagram