September Gardening Activities – Region 6
Tropical and Sub-Tropical Gardens
States in this region include: Hawaii, Florida (southern), Texas (southern), Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and other US territories.
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Take the time to prepare your garden, landscape and tools now for any storms that may come your way later. The Atlantic hurricane season is winding up for its most active period - while creating your written storm plan for your family, include plans for the garden. Decide who will move the outdoor furniture, hoses, planted containers, hanging baskets and grill, including where these garden tools and accessories will be stored for riding out the wind.
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Fertilize the lawn in late September or October. (Most Southern grasses can be fertilized in September - the one exception is centipede grass, which should not be fertilized after Sept. 1 to avoid cold damage.) Use a slow-release product with a low phosphorous content. (A phosphorous number between 1-3 percent is a good choice.) The key fertilizer element for fall and winter is potassium, which gives plants more resistance to cold injury. Also look for a product with trace elements including iron, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc.
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Think ahead for the late fall and winter vegetable garden. Early September is an excellent time to plant seeds for transplants. Think lettuce, peas, broccoli - and more! Select varieties adapted for your area for best growth and pest resistance. A little shade - particularly during the hottest part of the day - is a good thing for tender young seedlings.
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Compost! Garden season means garden waste. Composting is a great way to reduce waste going to the local landfill and recycle nutrients back to the soil for plant use. It can be done simply with a pile at the back of the yard or with a homemade bin. (There are even commercially produced compost bins which hide the process some home gardeners may find unsightly.)
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Plant a few species of night-bloomers in the garden to delight the senses with exotic perfumes. Some of the best plants for evening scents include angel's trumpet, night-blooming ceres, moonflower, flowering tobacco and four o'clocks.
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Keep up with weeds in the landscape and lawn! Certain weeds, like chamberbitter or sandspur, can be found growing in flower beds. It's best to pull these weeds by hand and throw them in the trash (not the compost pile). This helps reduce the amount of weed seeds for next year.
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Let some of your herbs (and flowers) go to seed. When the pods are fully "ripe" and dry on the plant, harvest the seed and store it in a cool, dry place until you're ready to plant the next crop. Be sure to dry part of your herb crop now to enjoy through the winter months.
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Start annual seed now - celosia, zinnias, sunflowers, coleus and others that will bloom late fall through winter - so they can be transplanted to the garden later next month. Another option: direct-sow the seed in the garden; it'll germinate and grow right where you sow it.
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Add some new garden interest with flowering bulbs. Amaryllis, crinum and calla lilies, gladiolas and other bulbs can be planted now.
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Create some privacy for your property. After a long summer of open views to your neighbor's back yard, now could be the ideal time to create a private space for you and your family to enjoy during the cooler days of fall.
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Come to The Garden Party and share your gardening adventures with other home gardeners around the country. Post pictures of your garden, write a blog, or ask expert green thumbs for more help, tips or suggestions on how to enhance your outdoor living experience.
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