After
Summer Comes a Flush of Garden Growth - September Garden Tips
by Thea
Fiskin, UC Master Gardener
Now that the record breaking heat is over, our plants should
start to recover and push out another flush of growth. Early autumn
is a great time to perk up your fescue lawn, plant a winter vegetable
garden, divide perennials, and make room for spring bulbs. Perennials
and shrubs planted now will grow roots before winter comes and
be ready to take off next spring.
GARDEN CHORES
LAWNS: Many fescue lawns are looking pretty sad; to bring
them back to health, here is what you need to do. First aerate
(aerify) to alleviate compaction and enhance water penetration;
aerators can be rented by the day. Afterwards apply a complete
lawn fertilizer and a preemergence herbicide to prevent annual
bluegrass (Poa annua) and other winter weed seeds from popping
up, then water deeply. If your lawn has dead spots, rake away
the dead grass, work in some organic matter, firm the soil, scatter
seed, firm again, and cover lightly with a humus topper. Remember
anywhere you used a preemergence herbicide; the grass seeds will
not come up. Water several times a day to keep the seedbed moist
to get maximum germination.
WATER: Check your irrigation timer and reduce watering
as the weather cools. Deep water citrus, stone fruit, and landscape
trees.
FLOWERS: After mid-month you can start planting your winter
color like asters, calendula, chrysanthemums, Iceland poppies,
ornamental kale, pansies, primroses, Shirley poppies, and stock.
Keep soil moist and use temporary shade if the heat refuses to
go away. Plant seeds of alyssum, bachelor buttons, calendula,
California poppy, forget-me-not, and sweet peas. Be sure to soak
sweet-pea seeds overnight before you plant.
Divide crowded perennials and spread them to some bare spots.
Lift and loosen clumps then divide into sections, removing any
old dead parts. Amend the soil with compost, then replant, and
water in well. This can be done to agapanthus, coreopsis, daylilies,
Echinacea, phlox, society garlic, yarrow and most other herbaceous
perennials.
VEGETABLES: It's time to change the vegetable garden to
cool season veggies, but don't pull out summer veggies too soon.
If we have mild weather, you may still have fresh tomatoes for
Thanksgiving. It's time to plant garlic. Break bulbs into individual
cloves, then plant each clove with the pointed end up, space about
four to six inches apart and about two inches deep.
Seed beets, carrots, lettuces, radishes, snow peas and spinach.
Set out seedlings of artichokes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower,
kale, and strawberries. Garden greens just like tomatoes always
taste better when they are home grown.
HERBS: Catnip, chamomile, cilantro, dill, Echinacea, fennel,
oregano, marjoram, parsley, rosemary and thyme can be planted
now. Sorry, no basil at this time; it needs heat.
BULBS: Look for firm healthy bulbs in the nurseries. Buy
quality bulbs. Usually larger bulbs mean larger flowers. Don't
be in a hurry to plant, they need cool soil; store them in a cool,
dark place until planting time in November.
Remember crocus, hyacinths and tulips require at least eight weeks
of "precooling" to bloom well. I put mine in the vegetable
crisper of the refrigerator in a paper (not plastic) bag. Be sure
to keep bulbs separated from fruit in the refrigerator. Most fruits
(especially bananas, apples, and tomatoes) release ethylene gas
as they ripen and this prevents bulbs from blooming.
CRITTER CONTROL: Clean up all debris around trees, like
fallen fruits and nuts. Remove any fruit mummies from trees to
reduce the source and possible infection of pests and diseases
in the future.
Whiteflies will soon be causing problems again. Blast the little
critters with water to knock the population down. They won't disappear
until our first frost.
Protect broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and kale from white cabbage
butterflies that lay their eggs on seedling plants. These eggs
hatch into caterpillars and start eating holes in leaves. Bigger
plants can easily sustain a few holes, but seedlings can be eaten
alive. Try row covers, hand picking or spraying with Bt, also
known as Caterpillar killer.
Lastly, when it comes to choosing your fall color this year,
try to think outside the box! This is the time that nurseries
and garden centers offer a good selection. Besides winter annuals
there are many wonderful perennials, shrubs, trees and vines that
are adapted to our Mediterranean climate that add a lot of color,
texture, and interest to a garden. Get creative!
