September Gardening Tips for the Northeast

Spring bulbs

Spring bulbs ready for planting

When should spring bulbs be planted?

It can be easy to think that there isn’t much to do in your garden when the cooler weather of fall arrives. However, so much of what you do today will benefit you in the spring. Take a look at the following tips to help create your monthly to-do list for September.

September Gardening Tips U.S. Gardening Region Map

Landscaping Tips

  • Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs because they have all winter long to grow deep, strong roots.
  • If you are planting trees this fall make sure to check out What Every New Gardener Needs to Know About Planting Trees.
  • Better Homes and Gardens reminds us that September is a great month to reseed and repair your lawn.
  • If you are reseeding your lawn, make sure to water it every day until you see that it has sprouted.
  • Make sure to fertilize your lawn this month because lawns that are fertilized during the fall have a better chance at surviving the winter.
  • Keep mowing your lawn, especially if your lawn has grown past 3 inches.

Fruit and Vegetable Tips

  • Make sure to bring your herbs indoors this month. When transplanting herbs indoors, you want to find a sunny spot and make sure that you let the soil dry out before you start watering again.

Perennial and Annual Tips

  • You can plant spring bulbs now and continue to plant them as long as the ground is workable.
  • According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, make sure to plant these spring bulbs as soon as you can:
    • Trout lily
    • Tulip
    • Narcissus
    • Daffodils
    • Snowdrop
    • White aconite starflower
    • Crown imperial
  • When planting crown imperial, make sure to add a little lime to the soil for best results.
  • Don’t forget to deadhead your flowers. If you are not sure how to deadhead, please check out the article, Deadheading Made Easy- How to Supercharge Your Garden.
  • Clean out your annual garden beds. Remember the more work you put into it today, the better off your garden will be come spring.

General Gardening Tips

  • Make sure that, even while the temperatures are getting cooler, you don’t stop weeding. You will be so happy you did come spring.

Summary

There is much to do in your garden in the month of September to prepare for winter and next spring. Although the temperatures are slowly dropping and days are becoming shorter, you are able to follow simple steps to help your landscape, fruit and vegetables, as well as your perennials and annuals flourish.

You may also like