What to do in your garden during September
Plant & sow
Annuals
Start sowing summer-flowering annuals from the middle of the month:
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Tropaeolum majus (Nasturtium) -
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
- Sow vegetables like:
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Petroselinum species (Parsley)
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Allium sativum (Garlic) -
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 maxima (Pumpkins)
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Lactuca sativa (Lettuce)
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Daucus carota (Carrots)
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Cucumis melo; Cucumis citrullu (Melons)
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Brassica campestris var. rapa (Turnips)
Bulbs
Towards the end of the month, plant summer-flowering bulbs
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Zantedeschia aethiopica (Arum lily)
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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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Liatris spicata x hybrids (Gayfeather, blazing star)
Garden Maintenance
- Water the lawn once a month.
- Water all fruit trees well once a month.
- Deadhead annuals to prolong their flowering period.
- Feed annuals with a fertilizer high in potassium.
- Spray apples and pears against codling moth, and start spraying peaches and nectarines every 10 days against fruit fly.
- Thoroughly water all shrubs, trees and climbers. Feed fig trees.
