September Gardening Chores
Even though much of our garden produce has already been harvested, and many people are busy canning, etc., there are still lots of things to be done in the month of September!
According to the Farmers Almanac, September is the time to take care of the following things:
- Compost should be watered during dry periods so that it remains active.
- Now is a good time to evaluate the success of this year's garden. Make notes that will help you improve your garden next spring.
- This is the best time to plant dormant evergreen trees and shrubs.
- Correct any soil deficiencies you've noticed. Healthy soil is crucial to healthy plants.
- Check coniferous trees for tip damage on new growth. If the tips have been mutilated by borers or otherwise damaged, remove them and establish a new leader by forcing a new side shoot into an upright position.
- Young trees should be staked to prevent the roots from being pulled by fall and winter winds.
- If you haven't brought your houseplants in yet, do it before you have to start heating your home. This gives them a chance to adjust. Wash them thoroughly before bringing them in to rid them of any pests and eggs.
- As perennials fade away, mark their locations with small sticks. Some might not be apparent after the winter and might be disrupted by spring cultivating.
- Plant spring bulbs as long as the ground is workable. Plant the following bulbs soon: trout lily, narcissus (including daffodil), snowdrop, winter aconite, starflower, and crown imperial. For crown imperial, add a little lime to the soil.
- Take cuttings from such outdoor plants as impatiens, coleus, and begonia. An early frost can ruin your chances for cutting at a later date.
- Dig up your rosemary, basil, tarragon, oregano, marjoram, English thyme, parsley, and chives to grow them inside as houseplants. Keep them in a cool, sunny spot, and allow the soil to dry out before watering. Snip off the leaves as needed in the kitchen, but do not strip them completely.
- Onions are nearly ripe when the tips of the leaves turn yellow. Break them at the necks. This will speed the final ripening process. Loosen the soil to encourage drying, and after a few days turn them up and let them cure on dry ground. Always handle them very carefully -- the slightest bruise will encourage rot to set in.
- Clean out any older growth of mint. It can become a nuisance, running rampant. Leave the younger stock.
- Cider made from blemished apples, known as drops, will be fine, but avoid using too many apples with bruises or open wounds. If rot has already set in, it will affect the taste and longevity of the cider.
- Supplement your apple pies with fruit frozen or canned earlier in the season.
- If you have unripe tomatoes still on the vine and frost is fast approaching, pull out the vines by the roots and hang them upside down in a cool, dark place.
- Transplant rhubarb, strawberries, and raspberries well before the first light frost so that some root development may take place. Rhubarb and strawberries deplete the soil of nutrients in a short time, so find new locations for them every three or four years.
Sunflower seeds are best dried on the plants. The seeds will be difficult to remove if you harvest the plants before they die naturally. Cover the heads with cheesecloth if you need to protect your crops from the birds.