September Tasks & Tips

Trees & Shrubs

• Now is the time to work on your landscape plans for planting trees and shrubs, and shop for supplies.
• Transplant broadleaf evergreen shrubs.
• Prune any remaining diseased or dead rose canes.
  

Fruit, Vegetables & Herbs

• Plant strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries.
• Continue to plant cool-season vegetables.
• Continue to harvest beans, tomatoes, peppers, okra, eggplant, pumpkins, winter squash and watermelons.

Miscellaneous

• Clean up garden debris and add to compost pile; water and aerate the pile to speed decomposition.
• Add organic matter such as manure, compost and/or leaf mold to improve garden soils.
• Don't forget to water; September can be dry.

Blog by: Sabine Ehlers, CMG
Source: Friends of UT Gardens

Perennials, Annuals & Bulbs

• Add a fresh layer of mulch to perennial beds, fruit trees and berries.
• Plant peonies this month.
• Divide, transplant and label perennials; provide plenty of water to new transplants.
• Collect seed from perennials and annuals.
• Plan spring bulb gardens and purchase bulbs this month.
• Remove and compost spent annuals.
• Dig caladiums and other tender bulbs and tubers and store for next year's use.
• For fall through spring color, add late-season annuals like pansies, snapdragons, sweet alyssum, ornamental kale and cabbage to the garden.
• Take cuttings from ornamental sweet potatoes, coleus and geraniums.