As the summer heat begins to subside, September is an excellent time to prepare your garden for the fall season. 1. Plant Cool-Season Crops – Plant broccoli, cauliflow er, kale, spinach, and carrots in early September for a fall harvest; 2. Maintain Lawn Care Continue to mow and water your lawn regularly. Consider de- thatching, which involves removing dead grass and debris from your lawn to improve airflow, reduce fungal diseases, and pro- mote healthy growth. You can use a dethatching rake or a power rake for this process; 3. Divide and Transplant – Divide and transplant perennials like daylilies. To do this: Dig around the daylily clump, making sure to get as much of the root system as possible, Gently wash
away excess soil to reveal the individual tubers, Separate the tubers, making sure each section has at least one "eye" or grow ing point, and Replant the separated tubers imme- diately, water well, and keep the soil consistently moist; 4. Prune and Train – Prune trees, shrubs, and vines to maintain shape and promote healthy growth. Train vines like clematis and wisteria by: Providing a trellis or support for the vine to climb, Gently twining the stems around the support, Pruning regularly to encour- age horizontal growth and prevent the vine from becoming too leggy; 5.
Manage Pests and Diseases – Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. Regularly inspect your plants for signs of disease; 6. Add Mulch and Compost – Apply a layer of mulch to: Retain moisture: Mulch acts as an insulating layer, reducing soil temperature and preventing moisture loss through evaporation, Suppress weeds: Mulch blocks light, preventing weeds from germinating
