What to do in the garden during September
Plant & Sow
Sow summer-flowering annuals like:
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Tropaeolum majus (Nasturtium)
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Tanacetum parthenium (Chrysanthemum parthenium) (Feverfew)
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Helianthus annuus (Sunflower)
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Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower)
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Amaranthus tricolor (Joseph’s coat)
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Cosmos bipinnatus (Cosmos)
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Eschscholzia californica (Californian poppy)
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Alcea rosea (Common hollyhock)
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Zinnia elegans (Zinnia,)
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Scabiosa atropurpurea (Sweet scabious, pincushion flower)
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Salvia splendens (Sage, scarlet salvia)
Vegetables
For the vegetable gardener, early start in September means a longer growing season and then, of course, more veggies to eat!
Sow vegetables like:
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Allium cepa (Onions)
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Petroselinum species (Parsley)
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Solanum tuberosum (Potatoes)
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Phaseolus coccineus (Runner bean)
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Raphanus sativus (Radishes)
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Phaseolus vulgaris (Beans (dwarf/green), French beans)
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Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomatoes)
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Cucurbita pepo var. pepo (Gem squash)
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Cucurbita maxima (Pumpkins)
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Lactuca sativa (Lettuce)
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Daucus carota (Carrots)
Bulbs
Start planting summer-flowering bulbs:
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Canna Species (Indian shot)
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Tulbaghia violacea (Wild garlic)
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Zephyranthes candida (Fairy lily, white rain lily)
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Tigridia pavonia x hybrids (Mexican shell flower, tiger flower)
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Sprekelia formosissima (Maltese cross, Aztec lily, Jacobean lily)
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Polianthes tuberosa x hybrids (Tuberose)
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Ornithogalum candicans (Berg lily, white berg lily)
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Nerine bowdenii (Giant nerine, large pink nerine)
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Merwilla plumbea (Blue squill, blue hyacinth)
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Hymenocallis narcissiflora x hybrids (Spider lily)
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Eucomis autumnalis (Pineapple lily)
Gardening Maintenance
Fertilize
Fertilize fruit trees, like:
- Ensure roses are well mulched.
- Spray apples and pears against codling moth;
- Start spraying peaches and nectarines every 10 days against fruit fly.
- Start thinning out peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots.
- Fertilize Summer-flowering bulbs and keep them moist.
Gardening maintenance
- Mow the lawn if necessary.
- Mulch the garden beds.
- Start planning the summer garden now.
- Remember to deadhead annuals and bedding plants regularly and feed every 2 weeks or so with diluted liquid fertilizer.
- Pull up spent winter annuals and vegetables and prepare the soil for new planting.
- Continue to remove weeds from lawns and pavings.
- Dead, diseased and damaged wood from deciduous trees and shrubs can be removed.