The Garden Website September
Amanda's Garden Consulting Company
Chrysanthemums start to blossom this month.
September Garden Chores
A Sweetheart grape tomato cluster.
Index
September Garden Chores - September Garden Stars - September Flower Arrangement
Garden Inspections - Assess - Too Big For Their Britches - Planting & Transplanting Time
Plant Spring Bulbs - What to Do With Perennials - Dahlias & Tuberous Begonias - Houseplants & Tropicals
Fall Leaves - Veggie Gardening - Tomatoes, Potatoes & Raspberries - Winter Veggie Gardening
September Lawn Care - Lawn Grubs - September Pruning - Peonies & Hellebores
Rose TLC - Sickly Plants - Time to Weed - Fall & Winter Planters - Fall Composting
Free Seeds - Don't Rake Beds Clean - Plant of the Month -Russian Sage
Garden Inspections - Assess - Too Big For Their Britches - Planting & Transplanting Time
Plant Spring Bulbs - What to Do With Perennials - Dahlias & Tuberous Begonias - Houseplants & Tropicals
Fall Leaves - Veggie Gardening - Tomatoes, Potatoes & Raspberries - Winter Veggie Gardening
September Lawn Care - Lawn Grubs - September Pruning - Peonies & Hellebores
Rose TLC - Sickly Plants - Time to Weed - Fall & Winter Planters - Fall Composting
Free Seeds - Don't Rake Beds Clean - Plant of the Month -Russian Sage
September's harvest.
Fellow Gardeners..
It's the broccoli's fault.
Hello Fellow Gardeners,
I should know better, especially after years of gardening. I blame the broccoli. It called to me you see, so I went outside to have a look. My numerous broccoli plants were standing proud and ready to harvest. So, with a big bowl and knife in hand, I quickly cut their heads off with no regret. That came later. The problem was not the broccoli, but with me. As I am harvesting the broccoli, I start noticing things – things that must be dealt with. While I am here, I might as well pull up some weeds…. oh, but wait… the Swiss chard is wilting slightly… it needs a drink. I should water the roses too as they are pregnant with flowers and buds. They need some TLC. Then I notice more weeds… where did they come from? I’m really not dressed for this. I’m not in my gardening togs. What am I doing? It’s hot, with bright sunshine and it’s very muggy. I’m beginning to sweat. I should go in, but wait, the tomatoes need a drink. I want a good crop of tasty tomatoes so I better water them too. It’s so hot I should go in. I keep saying to myself to finish up and go back inside as I am totally unprotected from mozzies and the sun. I have no sunscreen on, no hat, no gloves and no bug spray. I am defenseless, I really should go inside, but wait - I need to tie up that plant - I need to water this bed - I need to pull these weeds. Finally, after two hours I squint through the sweat falling into my eyes and scratch at a mozzie bite on my arm and retreat from the garden into my kitchen with the bowl full of broccoli. I feel I am going to melt into a puddle, it’s so hot and muggy. I am saturated with sweat, and my right foot is very soggy because it got in the way when I dropped the hose. My garden-debris loaded hair looks like it exploded, my face is bright red, and my freckles have taken on a life of their own. Alas, this is where the regret lies. I regret I did not come inside as soon as I harvested the broccoli. I should have popped it in the kitchen then donned my garden gear, sunscreen and bug spray and put on a hat. However, I don’t regret working in the garden. I got lots done in two hours and the plants I help gave me a high five in their own green way to thank me for the attention. Just to let you know that this is not the first time I have innocently walked outside all clean and fresh only to return hours later absolutely filthy and covered in garden debris. In a way it is quite satisfying getting things done out there, but I really should be smart about it and prepare. I just went outside to harvest the broccoli, that’s all. It will only take a sec. Take it easy out there and have fun! Cheers, Amanda September's Floral Arrangement
September 2026
Flowers an food combine with black-eyed susans, carrots and leeks. For a numbered guide to the specific flower names and for other arrangements go to Monthly Flower Arrangements.
September's Plant of the Month
Russian Sage
Russian Sage. Click on the pic for more.
Russian sage, Salvia yangii (formerly Perovskia atriplicifolia), is the perfect plant for hot, dry areas. To learn more click on Russian Sage.
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Water Restrictions Continue
Updated water restrictions for Metro Vancouver.
STAGE 1 RESIDENTIAL LAWN WATERING
Sprinklers and automatic watering (including lawns) between 5:00 am and 7:00 am, and manual watering between 6:00 am and 9:00 am. Even-numbered addresses on Saturdays & odd-numbered addresses on Sundays. Sprinklers are permitted on trees, shrubs, and flowers any day between 5:00 am and 9:00 am, or any time by hand or using drip irrigation. Click on Metro Vancouver for details. Need A Garden Consultation?
It's difficult to know where to start and what to in the fall garden.
Not happy with your garden? Need help figuring what to do, how to do it and when? To book an appointment click here for a garden consultation. Serving Metro Vancouver.
For the Tropical Gardener For tropical gardeners & those that want to be.
While working in Florida as a horticultural consultant, it became apparent that there was a need for a reference book detailing all the exotic tropical shrubs. To make my job easier and to help my clients, I wrote a reference book called Ornamental Tropical Shrubs. It includes pictures in full colour and information about the plants in point form. If you live in the tropics and subtropics and need a reference book on tropical shrubs, or you just want to have a look-see click here.
Gift Certificate
A personal garden consultation is the ideal gift for gardeners and non-gardeners alike. This two-hour consultation covers landscape design, trouble shooting, plant ID, lawn care, veggie gardening and other garden related issues. A $200.00 value. Serving Metro Vancouver. Click here to fill out the form.
Garden Videos
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September Garden Stars
Purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, herbaceous perennial, 15” to 18” x 12” to 16”, sun, part shade. Zones 4 to 8.
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Glossy abelia, Abelia x grandiflora, broad leaf evergreen shrub, 4 to 6 ft x 5 ft, full sun, part shade. Zones 6 to 9. Click on pic for more.
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Chrysanthemums, herbaceous perennial, 1-3’ x 1-2’, sun. Zones 5 to 9. Click on pic for more.
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Mountain ash, Sorbus aucuparia, deciduous tree, 20' - 40' x 10'-20', sun, part shade. Zones 3 to 6. Click on pic for more.
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Heavenly bamboo, Nandina domestica, broadleaf evergreen, June flowers, sun, shade, 3-8’ x 2-4’. Zones 8 to 10. Click on pic for more.
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Pink Japanese anemone, Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’, herbaceous perennial, 4ft, sun, part shade. Zones 5 to 9. Click on pic for more.
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Pandora leopard plant, Ligularia dentata 'Pandora', herbaceous perennial, 18" x 18", part to full shade. Zones 4 to 8.
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Tutsan, sweet-amber, Hypericum androsaemum, deciduous shrub, 2-3’, sun, part shade, red berries. Zones 5 to 8.
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Autumn crocus, Colchicum autumnale, corm, 6 - 10”, spring leaves, fall flowers, sun to shade. Zones 4 to 8. Click on pic for more.
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Sweet autumn clematis/virgins bower, Clematis terniflora, deciduous vine, 15-30ft, fragrant, sun to part shade. Zones 5 to 9
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Henry III Purple fall aster, Symphyotrichum (Aster) novi-belgii, 24", herbaceous perennial, sun. Zones 4 to 8. Click on pic for more.
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Sneezeweed, Helenium autumnale, up to 30", sun. Zones 4-9. Click on the pic for more.
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White Fountain bush clover, Lespedeza thunbergii, deciduous shrub, 4-6’ x 4-12’, sun, part shade. Zones 4-8
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Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus, deciduous tree-like shrub to 12 ft, sun. Zones 5-8. Click on the pic for more.
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Hardy fuchsia, F. magellanica, deciduous shrub, 4' to 8' tall & wide, partial shade. Zones 6 to 9. Click on pic for more.
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Autumn Joy Sedum, Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude', herbaceous perennial, sun, 1.5-3'. Zones 3 to 9.
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Cinquefoil, Potentilla fruticosa, deciduous shrub, 2-3 ft tall and wide, sun, part shade. Zones 3 - 8. Click on pic for more.
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Peegee hydrangea, H. paniculata 'Grandiflora', deciduous shrub or tree, 10’-25’ x 8’-16’, sun, part shade. Zones 3 to 8.
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Goldsturm black-eyed susan, Rudbeckia fulgida, herbaceous perennial, 2', sun, part shade, Zones 4 to 9. Click on the pic for more.
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Karl Foester feather reed grass, Calamagrostis × acutiflora, herbaceous perennial, 3’-5’ x 2’-2.5’, sun. Zones 5 to 9.
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Yellow wax bells, Kirengeshoma palmata, herbaceous perennial, 3’-6’, part shade. Zones 5 - 9.
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September Garden Chores
Click on the coloured, underlined links to be redirected.
September in the garden includes a Lady Darlene dahlia, a Sweet Madam Blue rose & a peegee hydrangea.
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There's lots to do in the veggie garden,
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Check Out Your Garden: Gardens are feeling the effects of summer and need some TLC. Some plants will be suffering from heat stress, drought, diseases and bugs. Petunias and other annuals have seen better days, however coneflowers, asters and other late bloomers are coming into their own. Meanwhile harvesting is a daily event as tomatoes, peppers and other crops seem to ripen overnight. For more click on Garden Inspections & Fall Garden Chores.
Sickly Plants
Get to know your garden's sunny and shady spots.
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It's too sunny for these hostas.
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A flowering currant reaches for more light.
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Before tossing out a plant that under performs, is buggy, diseased or is just not doing well, maybe it’s in the wrong spot. Hostas that receive too much sun turn brown and crispy, however tomatoes lack vigour, are disease prone and produce fewer fruit without adequate light. To know what conditions specific plants require do your research and keep plant labels and plant accordingly.
Too Big For Their Britches
It's a bit too crowded for this young lily of the valley shrub.
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Shorten stems above a side branch.
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The previously hidden lily of the valley shrub is now exposed.
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Making Space: There are plants that enjoy the summer so much so that they encroach on other plant’s personal space blocking light, air and water. Either transplant the smaller plants or trim back the offending plant by no more than a quarter of its overall growth. Alternately, just remove any offensive overly long branches that are encroaching on neighbouring plants.
Planting & Transplanting Time
Trunk flare must sit above the ground.
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Planted too deeply.
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Planting & Transplanting Time: Plant new plants and transplant existing ones once the weather cools and the rain returns. This gives them time to re-root and to establish themselves before spring. To learn the secrets of successful planting methods, click on Planting Know How. For a video click on How to Plant a Tree.
Need More Plants? Autumn is the best time to plant as the soil is still warm from the summer, which stimulates root growth. Rain is usually plentiful and the cool winter temperatures helps establish plants faster than summer’s heat and arid conditions. Another bonus is financial as garden centres are keen to sell off their old stock at discount prices. While you’re there, check out their colourful fall plants and flowers. Here’s some options for Colourful Fall Plants.
Need More Plants? Autumn is the best time to plant as the soil is still warm from the summer, which stimulates root growth. Rain is usually plentiful and the cool winter temperatures helps establish plants faster than summer’s heat and arid conditions. Another bonus is financial as garden centres are keen to sell off their old stock at discount prices. While you’re there, check out their colourful fall plants and flowers. Here’s some options for Colourful Fall Plants.
Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs
A stunning bulb display at Prospect Point, Vancouver.
Potted bulbs add easy beauty everywhere.
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Plant bulbs with bonemeal and dust with cinnamon.
Protect bulbs from being eaten with bulb pans and chicken wire.
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Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs: Purchase tulips, daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs as soon as possible for the best selection of fresh, healthy bulbs. Note that the larger the bulb, the bigger the flower. Plant bulbs as soon as possible so they can develop a good root system before they pop out of the ground in spring.
Plant bulbs in groups for maximum impact. Add some to planters for early spring colour. To overwinter potted bulbs, bury the pots, cover with a layer of fall leaves or straw and remember to label them so you don’t forget where they are. Dig them up in the spring and place them in the garden wherever you need a splash of spring colour. Check out my video on Planting Tulip Bulbs. For more info on nice bulb displays and tips on critter control click on Spring Flowering Bulbs.
Plant bulbs in groups for maximum impact. Add some to planters for early spring colour. To overwinter potted bulbs, bury the pots, cover with a layer of fall leaves or straw and remember to label them so you don’t forget where they are. Dig them up in the spring and place them in the garden wherever you need a splash of spring colour. Check out my video on Planting Tulip Bulbs. For more info on nice bulb displays and tips on critter control click on Spring Flowering Bulbs.
What to do with Perennials
Wait for leaves to yellow before cutting them off.
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Leave a few inches of stem when cutting back perennials.
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Leave healthy debris on the ground.
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Divide old perennials.
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Perennial TLC: Cut back iris, daylilies, perennials to within 4” to 6” inches off the ground once they start to yellow and die back. The remaining stem protects the roots reducing winter damage and any hollow stems provides homes for beneficial insects. There's no need to discard healthy leaves & stems, just lay them on ground to decompose. This ‘chop & drop’ method creates a nutritional mulch and is a low maintenance, organic technique.
Time to Divide: Autumn is a good time to divide perennials that are getting too big for their britches. Daylilies, hostas, Solomon’s seal, sedums and many other perennials form colonies that expand year after year. To revitalize mature clumps and to reduce their spread, dig them up and discard old unproductive roots, rhizomes and tubers. To divide the remaining roots, use a sharp shovel, an old pruning saw, bread knife or two garden forks back to back and pry the roots apart. Here's more on Fall Garden Chores.
Time to Divide: Autumn is a good time to divide perennials that are getting too big for their britches. Daylilies, hostas, Solomon’s seal, sedums and many other perennials form colonies that expand year after year. To revitalize mature clumps and to reduce their spread, dig them up and discard old unproductive roots, rhizomes and tubers. To divide the remaining roots, use a sharp shovel, an old pruning saw, bread knife or two garden forks back to back and pry the roots apart. Here's more on Fall Garden Chores.
Dahlias & Tuberous Begonias
Alauna Clair-Obscur dahlia.
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Dig up dahlias when they collapse.
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Store dahlia tubers in cardboard boxes.
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Tuberous begonias are not winter hardy.
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Wait for begonia stems to break off before storing.
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Dahlias: Either dig them up and store them over the winter or take a chance and leave them in the ground. That’s doable only if you live in USDA Zones 8 to 10. Otherwise wait for plants to yellow or for frost to take them down. For more click on Dahlias.
Tuberous Begonias: These tender plants must be stored over the winter in a frost free, dry location. Dig up any tuberous begonias in the garden when they start to decline or when frost bitten, whichever comes first. Overwinter potted tuberous begonias in their pots. Withhold water to hasten dormancy if needed. For more click on Tuberous Begonias.
Tuberous Begonias: These tender plants must be stored over the winter in a frost free, dry location. Dig up any tuberous begonias in the garden when they start to decline or when frost bitten, whichever comes first. Overwinter potted tuberous begonias in their pots. Withhold water to hasten dormancy if needed. For more click on Tuberous Begonias.
Houseplants & Tropicals
Bring in tropical plants & houseplants vacationing outside.
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Coleus make great houseplants!
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Save your geraniums for next year.
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Tender Tropical Plants: Bring in your fuchsias, geraniums, angel trumpets (Brugmansia, Datura), bougainvilleas, impatiens, coleus and any other potted plants you want to save. Do it as soon as possible before they start to decline. To learn more click on Saving Tender Plants - Houseplants in Winter and Overwintering Tropical Plants Indoors.
It's All About the Veggies
September goodies from the garden.
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It's the last hurrah for the veggie garden.
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Veggie Time: Although it is September, there are many crops that are still producing. It’s difficult to know how long the veggie garden will be pumping out tomatoes, peppers, eggplants & beans so daily inspections and harvesting are definitely warranted. Pick veggies at their peak and discard anything that’s not healthy to prevent the spread of infection. Here's more on Fall Veggie Garden Clean-up & for info on when to harvest click on Harvesting.
Kale will keep over winter.
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Mulch overwintering crops with fall foliage.
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Don’t Harvest Cool Crops: There’s no need pull out crops that are still doing well, such as broccoli, kale, carrots, beets, Swiss chard and other cool season veggies as they will continue to grow throughout the fall and winter. Remove any growth that’s yellow, unhealthy and dead from plants and the ground. Remove all weeds and other debris then cover the soil with a thick layer of straw, fall leaves or newspaper.
Improve the soil with compost.
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Unprotected soil leads to weeds, erosion & nutrient loss
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Crimson clover is an attractive & effective cover crop.
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Protect beds with straw or fall leaves.
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After the Crops are Done: As soon as crops are harvested, remove all debris from the ground to reduce overwintering pests and diseases. Mix in a couple of inches of compost, SeaSoil, leaf mould and other organic amendments to improve the soil. To protect the soil from nutrient loss, erosion, weeds, wind, freezing and thawing, there are two options.
Option 1: Sow a cover crop, such as crimson clover or winter peas. Cover crops protect the soil as they continue to grow throughout the fall and winter. In spring incorporate them in the spring as green manure.
Option 2: Cover the soil with a couple of inches or more of fall leaves, straw (not hay) or a thick layer of ripped up newspaper.
Option 1: Sow a cover crop, such as crimson clover or winter peas. Cover crops protect the soil as they continue to grow throughout the fall and winter. In spring incorporate them in the spring as green manure.
Option 2: Cover the soil with a couple of inches or more of fall leaves, straw (not hay) or a thick layer of ripped up newspaper.
The Last of the Tomatoes
It's time to harvest.
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Remove flowers & suckers.
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Click on pic to learn the secrets of saving tomato seeds.
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Tame plants & hasten ripening with judicious pruning. Click on pic for more.
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Epsom salts has many benefits.
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Late blight is a common tomato disease. Click on pic for more.
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Tomatoes: Since it is September, it’s time to speed up the ripening of existing green tomatoes. Sadly, any tomato flowers won’t have time to produce fruit before the season is over so it’s best to remove them. Spur on the tomato ripening process by cutting stems just above the fruit. To further encourage ripening, mix 2 tablespoons of Epsom salts in one gallon of water. Use as a foliar spray or as a soil drench. Don’t spray plants in full sun as it will damage the foliage.
Remove any tomato plants that are showing any signs of blight as there’s no cure, unless they are undercover. It's the rain and fog that harbours this disease. Harvest any healthy fruit and discard sickly plants, don’t compost them. To reduce blight, keep water off the foliage. Remember to water the ground, not the plant. For a video click on Taming Tomatoes. Here’s more information on Speeding Up Tomato Ripening - Tomato Tips – Taming Tomatoes – Saving Tomato Seeds – Tomato Troubles.
Remove any tomato plants that are showing any signs of blight as there’s no cure, unless they are undercover. It's the rain and fog that harbours this disease. Harvest any healthy fruit and discard sickly plants, don’t compost them. To reduce blight, keep water off the foliage. Remember to water the ground, not the plant. For a video click on Taming Tomatoes. Here’s more information on Speeding Up Tomato Ripening - Tomato Tips – Taming Tomatoes – Saving Tomato Seeds – Tomato Troubles.
Wait for potato stems to wither before harvesting.
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Cover potatoes to prevent greening.
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Train raspberries on a trellis.
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Cut off canes that produced berries.
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Potatoes: Refrain from watering potatoes after their leaves yellow. Wait 3 weeks then dig them up. Cure in a dry, dark location, then store in a cool, dark and dry, frost-free location.
Raspberries: Cut back all canes that have produced fruit this year as well as weak, infected canes at ground level. Tie new canes to the fence, trellis or other support. To stop raspberries and other can fruit from spreading, pull and/or dig up any wayward stems. Remove all weeds and grass then lay a 3 inch layer of an organic mulch on top of the soil. To further control their spread install root barriers. Bury heavy plastic boards or metal edging 12 to 18 inches deep around the bed.
Raspberries: Cut back all canes that have produced fruit this year as well as weak, infected canes at ground level. Tie new canes to the fence, trellis or other support. To stop raspberries and other can fruit from spreading, pull and/or dig up any wayward stems. Remove all weeds and grass then lay a 3 inch layer of an organic mulch on top of the soil. To further control their spread install root barriers. Bury heavy plastic boards or metal edging 12 to 18 inches deep around the bed.
Winter Veggies
Sow pea seeds.
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Sow radish seeds.
Purchase starter plants.
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Sow beet seeds.
A cloche protects crops. Click on pic for more.
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Fall & Winter Veggie Gardening: Prepare the ground by removing all debris, mix in a few inches of compost. Sow seeds of quickie cool season crops such as spinach, peas, radishes, lettuce to harvest in a month or two. Sow other cool crops that will overwinter such beets, carrots, kale and cabbage. Alternately, purchase starter plants at your local garden centre. For more on winter veggies click on Winter Veggie Gardening.
September Lawn Care
Fertilize lawns this month.
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Lawn seed combined with fertilizer.
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Topdress lawns with compost, not sand.
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Use winterizer fertilizers on northern lawns.
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Don't walk on frosty lawns.
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September Lawn Care: September’s cooler, wetter weather resuscitates lawns. As they wake from their summer dormancy they will need food to encourage active growth. Apply a slow release or organic nitrogen fertilizer (high first number ratio ex: 14-5-4) that contains iron and other micronutrients. Avoid fertilizers with numbers over 20 as excessive nitrogen accelerates lush growth that’s susceptible to brown patch disease and frequent mowing. To thicken lawns, topdress with a fine compost. Avoid lawn soil as it contains excess sand which contributes nothing to benefit the lawns. Overseed lawns with a grade A grass seed, preferably one that includes a starter fertilizer. Here's more on lawns: Lawn Basics - Lawn Reno, Seed & Sod - Lawn Maintenance Schedule - Lawn Grub Control - Moss in Lawns - Lawn Alternatives
Northern Lawns: For regions that receive frost this month or the next, avoid applying a high nitrogen fertilizer as it’s too late to encourage lush tender growth. Instead, apply a winterizer fertilizer (5-2-10). It’s low in nitrogen, but high in potassium, which promotes winter hardiness. Here's more on fertilizers: Feeding Plants 101 - Fertilizers & Ratios - Nutritional Deficiencies & Toxicities - Organic Plant Food
Northern Lawns: For regions that receive frost this month or the next, avoid applying a high nitrogen fertilizer as it’s too late to encourage lush tender growth. Instead, apply a winterizer fertilizer (5-2-10). It’s low in nitrogen, but high in potassium, which promotes winter hardiness. Here's more on fertilizers: Feeding Plants 101 - Fertilizers & Ratios - Nutritional Deficiencies & Toxicities - Organic Plant Food
Check your mower & measure for the correct mowing height.
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Longer grass is healthier.
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Grass clipping clumps damage lawns.
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Mow & bag leaves to use as mulch.
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Mowing: Cutting the grass too short this time of year is a mistake as the lawn is recovering from the summer. The longer leaf blades produce more food for a healthier and more vigorous lawn. Set the mower at 21/2 to 3 inches, no lower. Mow frequently so only 1/3rd of the leaf blades are removed at each mowing. This usually means the lawn must be cut at least once a week when it is actively growing, but your grass will love you for it.
Fall Foliage on the Lawn: Fallen fall foliage on lawns will soon become a daily irritant for many people, but it doesn’t have to be. Instead of raking the leaves and putting them in bags, try mowing them while they are still on the lawn as long as they are dry and not too thick. Attach the mower bag to collect the shredded leaves as well as the grass clippings, then empty the bag onto garden beds for a nutritious and protective mulch. Alternately, if you don’t want to mow the leaves, just rake them onto your garden beds.
Fall Foliage on the Lawn: Fallen fall foliage on lawns will soon become a daily irritant for many people, but it doesn’t have to be. Instead of raking the leaves and putting them in bags, try mowing them while they are still on the lawn as long as they are dry and not too thick. Attach the mower bag to collect the shredded leaves as well as the grass clippings, then empty the bag onto garden beds for a nutritious and protective mulch. Alternately, if you don’t want to mow the leaves, just rake them onto your garden beds.
Crows destroy lawns as they look for grubs.
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Chinch bug larvae feed on lawn roots.
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Longer leaf blades deter adult insects from laying their eggs.
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Lawn Grubs? Birds, raccoons, or other animals tear up lawns as they feed on grubs in the soil. Although they cause a lot of damage, they are nature’s non-toxic and free pest control crew. The grubs must be controlled as they feed on the grass roots severing the lawn from the soil – that’s not a good thing. Lawn grubs are larvae of crane flies, European chafer beetles, chinch bugs and numerous other insects. To kill the grubs, allow the critters to devour them. Once the feeding frenzy has stopped, renovate whatever is left of your lawn or install a new one. To prevent lawn grubs from re-infesting your lawn you must change your lawn maintenance routine. Keep the grass at least 2.5 inches long so the adult insect cannot reach the soil to lay their eggs. For more ways to deter these lawn pests click on Lawn Grubs.
Apply Dolopril lime on mossy lawns.
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Reseed damaged & weak lawns.
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Sow grass seed when the weather cools and rains return.
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Lawns must receive an inch of water a week.
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Mossy Lawns: Lawns that are more moss than grass indicates that the pH is too low. To rectify, apply Dolomite lime. Not only does dolomite increase the soil pH, but it also adds calcium and magnesium, which benefits lawn health.
Lawn Renovation: Autumn is an ideal time to renovate and to install new lawns as the threat of summer heat and arid conditions are over. To learn more, click on Renovating & New Lawns.
Watering the Lawn: If there’s less than an inch of rain a week, it’s a good idea to put on the sprinklers for an hour once a week, which is allowed during the current Metro Vancouver water restrictions. The cooler temperatures and shorter days initiates grass growth. If lawns don’t receive adequate water your lawn will not recover adequately from the summer. Here's more on Lawn Maintenance Schedule.
Lawn Renovation: Autumn is an ideal time to renovate and to install new lawns as the threat of summer heat and arid conditions are over. To learn more, click on Renovating & New Lawns.
Watering the Lawn: If there’s less than an inch of rain a week, it’s a good idea to put on the sprinklers for an hour once a week, which is allowed during the current Metro Vancouver water restrictions. The cooler temperatures and shorter days initiates grass growth. If lawns don’t receive adequate water your lawn will not recover adequately from the summer. Here's more on Lawn Maintenance Schedule.
Let the Leaves Fall Where they May
Recycle fall foliage.
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Leaves are an essential part of a healthy soil.
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Follow Mother Nature and leave the leaves.
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Fallen Leaves: Don’t discard fallen foliage as it has many uses in the garden. Instead of buying mulch and fertilizers, recycle fallen foliage to enrich, build and protect soil. Save yourself time by raking leaves from the lawn into garden beds for a nutritious and protective mulch. Place it 3 inches deep so it doesn’t blow away and does it’s job like a good mulch does. Protect vulnerable plants over the winter by placing leaves over top of their crowns (where the stem and roots join). Store extra leaves in garbage bags with holes poked in for a nutrient rich leaf mould. Add fall leaves to compost bins for the carbon layer and store extra leaves in bags to use as needed.
Don't Be Too Clean
A raked beds exposes roots.
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Don't rake leaf litter from the ground.
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Organic matter reduces maintenance & improves soil.
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Don’t Rake Beds Clean: Save your back, your time, your money and leave the leaves! Allow nature to work its magic as it turns that debris into nutritious soil. Mother Nature is an efficient and productive recycler of leaves, twigs, dead flowers and organic debris as they become an essential part of the soil food web. The soil becomes a self-sufficient, sustainable community that doesn’t need additional fertilizer to survive. Organic debris also provides a home for beneficial insects to overwinter. Click on Soil for more on how to build healthy soil.
September Pruning Tasks
Don't prune spring bloomers such as the lily of the valley shrub.
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Cut off suckers and the burl (nub) they are growing from.
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Don't top trees! Duh!
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Use the right pruning tool for the job.
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Prune hedges asap.
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Take it easy when cutting plants back this time of year as it encourages tender growth, which is easily killed by frost. Besides, plants are winding down and getting ready for spring so removing any green growth diminishes their ability to make and store food. Avoid cutting back plants that are suffering from drought stress and have not recovered from the heat of summer. Refrain from pruning lilacs and other spring flowering plants as they have already set their flower buds.
Trees: It’s best to wait for winter while they are dormant. It is a massive mistake to remove the tops of trees by cutting off all their branches. Trees, if they survive the butchering, are weakened and disfigured as ugly suckers grow to replace the branches. Pruning 101- Pruning Tools.
Pruning Hedges: If they need to be trimmed, do it as soon as possible so the resulting new growth will toughen up before winter arrives.
Trees: It’s best to wait for winter while they are dormant. It is a massive mistake to remove the tops of trees by cutting off all their branches. Trees, if they survive the butchering, are weakened and disfigured as ugly suckers grow to replace the branches. Pruning 101- Pruning Tools.
Pruning Hedges: If they need to be trimmed, do it as soon as possible so the resulting new growth will toughen up before winter arrives.
Peonies & Hellebores
Lenten roses (hellebores) are prone to hellebore leaf spot.
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Remove infected foliage from diseased hellebores.
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Peonies are prone to peony measles.
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Remove and discard infected peony foliage.
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Peonies & Hellebores: Cut off all blemished and infected foliage, stems and flowers to reduce the spread of peony measles and hellebore leaf spot. Keep infected plant parts out of the compost bin to prevent contamination.
Powdery Mildew: The white powdery substance on phlox, cucumbers, maple trees and many other plants is caused by the powdery mildew fungus. It’s common this time of year due to the remnants of summer with dry soil, overhead watering, dew soaked foliage and fog.
To prevent the fungus from overwintering, remove all infected foliage from the plant (where possible) and the ground and discard. To prevent and control further contamination spray with baking soda or a milk solution. Note that even after treatment, infected leaves will not become healthy.
Powdery Mildew: The white powdery substance on phlox, cucumbers, maple trees and many other plants is caused by the powdery mildew fungus. It’s common this time of year due to the remnants of summer with dry soil, overhead watering, dew soaked foliage and fog.
To prevent the fungus from overwintering, remove all infected foliage from the plant (where possible) and the ground and discard. To prevent and control further contamination spray with baking soda or a milk solution. Note that even after treatment, infected leaves will not become healthy.
September Roses
Sweet Madam Blue's September blossoms.
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Keep the colourful rose hips for winter interest.
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Remove & discard all unhealthy foliage.
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Remove all dead rose canes.
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Continue to cut off the dead flowers just above a leaf with 5 to 7 leaflets. Remove all infected and yellow foliage from the ground and the plant. Although some people remove all the foliage from roses in autumn, even when there are green and healthy, it’s not necessary. After all their leaves yellow, cut all canes back by a 1/4. Refrain from any hard pruning to prevent winterkill. Remove all dead, diseased and spindly canes at their point of origin. Water plants after pruning, especially if dry then place at least 3 inches of organic mulch or soil on top of the crown (where stems and roots join) for winter protection. Click on Pruning Roses for more.
Time to Weed
Weed block & landscape fabric do not hinder weeds.
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Lay mulch down once an area in weeded.
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Bagged mulch is available where garden products are sold.
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Pull out horsetails, don't dig them up.
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Take the time to weed the garden before winter arrives so they don’t take run riot by the time spring arrives. Hand weeding is difficult when the soil is dry, so water the ground thoroughly, then yank them up, roots, runners and all. Avoid digging up horsetails and bindweed as it spreads them even more, instead firmly pull them out of the ground. Although pulling weeds is not a coveted gardening chore, it is an instant fix compared to herbicides, which needs multiple applications to be effective. If using herbicides, select Safer’s Fatty Acid, horticultural grade vinegar or another organic weed killer. Follow the instructions, don’t spray on windy days, protect neighbouring plants with cardboard etc.
Fall & Winter Planters
Remove all dead and dying plants.
Squeeze in pansies & other hardy plants in existing planters.
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Beautiful autumnal planters are available at local nurseries.
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Cool Wave pansies don't mind the cold.
Don't forget to include spring bulbs. Serano Greigii tulip pictured.
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Fall & Winter Planters: Give them a new lease on life by removing dead and dying plants and replace them with winter pansies, fall asters, flowering kale, hellebores, winter heather. Let’s not forget to add some tulips, crocus and other spring flowering bulbs. Before planting scrape off the top layer of soil, add some fresh soil or compost, mix in a slow release granular fertilizer, then plant your new babies and water well. Click here for a video on Planting A Fall Planter. Here's more on Container Growing - Choosing a Container.
Composting in Fall
Compost vegetation only.
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Compost fallen fruit.
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Don't compost weedy seeds & runners.
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Always top the compost with fall leaves or another carbon layer..
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What to Compost: Tempting as it is, refrain from dumping plants into the compost bin without cutting them up into smaller pieces. Not only does it fill the bin in an instant, it takes ages for them to decompose. Don’t contaminate your compost with weeds, seeds and runners. To prevent bad odors and vermin, do not add meat products, fat and anything that has been cooked, including leftovers. For more on composting and composting issues click here.
Free Seeds
Wait for seedpods to turn brown to collect seeds.
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Dill seeds.
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Lettuce seeds
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Don't forget to label your seeds.
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Collect Seeds: There’s no need to buy seeds when you can collect them from your garden. Tomatoes, peppers, peas, beans, lettuce, kale, petunias, alyssum, columbine and many other plants produce viable seeds. Note that their offspring may similar but not identical. For more information click on Collecting Seeds.
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THE GARDEN WEBSITE INDEX
Click on the links below to be redirected.
for the tropical Gardener
While working in Florida as horticultural consultant, it became apparent that there was a need for a book on tropical shrubs. There are so many wonderful shrubs to choose from, so I wrote a reference book to make the selections easier. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs includes pictures in full colour and information about the plants in point form. So if you live in the tropics and subtropics and need a reference book on tropical shrubs, or you just want to have a look-see click here.
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