September Garden Tasks
September Is Grow Time!
The arrival of September means cooler temperatures and the beginning of all things fall planting. This is the ideal time to put something new in the ground as cooler temperatures allow new plants to establish themselves by developing strong, healthy roots needed to thrive during our hot Sacramento summers. Check out a few of our fall planting ideas including native seeds, cool-season veggies, and spring-blooming bulbs, along with other garden tasks to tackle this month.
Native Plant Seeds
Fall is the perfect time to start planting California native wildflower seeds such as California poppies and lupines. And Green Acres is happy to be able to partner with Hedgerow Farms in Winters to provide our customers with a selection of native seeds. Come in and check out the seed display and then listen to our podcast to meet the team at Hedgerow Farms and learn about the benefits of planting native wild flowers and grasses.
Ready. Set. Grow Veggies!
We hope you are still enjoying a bountiful harvest from your summer garden—but change will be here soon, and it's time to start thinking about planting options for your cool-season garden.
September is a good time to direct sow seeds for lettuce, beets, carrots, kale, mustard greens, peas, spinach, turnips, and parsnips. This month, you can also plant veggie starts for broccoli, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, and Swiss chard.
September is a good time to direct sow seeds for lettuce, beets, carrots, kale, mustard greens, peas, spinach, turnips, and parsnips. This month, you can also plant veggie starts for broccoli, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, and Swiss chard.
Before planting your winter veggies or fall flowers, we recommend adding soil amendment such as compost, to replenish nutrients and add soil science to your planting beds and containers.
See our Vegetable Planting Calendar for which cool-season veggies can be started this month.
Beautiful Blooming Bulbs
Invest in spring color by planting fall bulbs now. Choose from over 50 individual varieties and a premier selection of Blends of Beauty® that take the guesswork out of garden design by providing ready-made mixes of classic and hard-to-find bulbs. Choose from daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, irises, and many more, including edibles such as onions, garlics, and shallots.
Bone meal is an ideal transplanting fertilizer and source of phosphorous which is essential to plant growth. Use bone meal with bulbs and other flowering plants, as well as vegetables like peas and beans.
Garden Tip: Remember to refrigerate tulip, hyacinth, and crocus bulbs for at least six weeks prior to planting to ensure bountiful blooms next year.
Bone meal is an ideal transplanting fertilizer and source of phosphorous which is essential to plant growth. Use bone meal with bulbs and other flowering plants, as well as vegetables like peas and beans.
Garden Tip: Remember to refrigerate tulip, hyacinth, and crocus bulbs for at least six weeks prior to planting to ensure bountiful blooms next year.
Other Tasks For September
- Roses love having spent flowers removed and will shower you with a fresh season of blooms as a thank you.
- Dethatch and reseed bare spots for a lush and healthy lawn.
- Towards the end of September, you may need to reduce the number of watering days as plants slow down their growth. Check for your watering schedule at BeWaterSmart.
- Dig up, divide, and replant congested clumps of overgrown perennials.
- Fertilize fruit trees after harvest and refresh mulch to a depth of 3"-4” around the tree. If you have citrus trees, thin fruit now for a healthier, larger harvest.
- Welcome the new season by filling a pot with fall favorites such as pansies, mums, and ornamental kale. Top it off with a colorful pumpkin!
