Monthly Gardening Guide

September Garden Guide

Allowing September rose blooms to stay on plants aids in winter protection. Watch for black spot on roses and remove infected leaves.
Lift gladiolus corms when leaves begin to brown. Dry in the sun a few days.
Divide most perennials except asters and mums, which haven’t bloomed.
Divide and replant peony roots. Avoid planting too deeply.
Bring coleus, geranium, caladium, and begonias indoors.
Place amaryllis in a cool basement for a 3-month rest period.
To set buds, Christmas cacti require a rest period and cool nights (55 degrees).
Sow snapdragons, cornflowers and other hardy annuals a few weeks before the first frost date. Mark where planted to avoid damaging seedlings in spring.
Carefully inspect spring flowering bulbs before planting. Discard soft bulbs.
Remove newly set tomatoes, blossoms and new growth five weeks before expected frost because they won’t have time to mature.
Sow annual ryegrass or oats for winter cover and green manure in beds that won’t be planted until late in spring. Keep watered.
Remove all weeds from garden before they go to seed.
Pinch out the growing points at the top of Brussels sprout stems so bottom sprouts will reach maturity.
Watch for early frosts. Cover the garden when frost is predicted to obtain up to another month of growth. Water plants well for greater frost protection and maximum growth.
Cut back perennials after frost.
Dig and pot parsley, chives and tender herbs for transfer indoors to a sunny window.
For better keeping, harvest carrots, beets and turnips before first frost kills foliage.
Gather squash, pumpkins and gourds when ripe and before frost damage. Leave a 2-inch stem on the vegetables for better storage.
Clear garden beds immediately after harvest. Destroy any diseased plants by burning, composting in a hot pile, or sealing in a container for disposal.
Early September is the latest time to plant spring-flowering shrubs.
Aerate lawn when temperature is 60-70 degrees.
Stop planting evergreens by mid-September.
Harvest pears when light green. Separate from the branch with a slight twisting motion.
Harvest grapes. Fertilize with one cup of bone meal per plant.
Harvest apples. Rake leaves and fallen fruit from apple trees to control disease and inspect for problems next year. Be careful not to injure long-lived fruiting spurs when harvesting.
Cut out spent raspberry and blackberry canes after fruiting.

October Garden Guide

On October 1, start treatment of poinsettias for bract coloration. Place in total darkness for 15 hours every day for 2 months. Night temperature should be 65-70 degrees F. Keep soil moist.
Plant peonies until October 15. Mulch after the ground freezes.
Seed perennials such as Oriental poppy, Iceland poppy, gas plant, primrose, scabiosa, phlox, pansy, and penstemon. Mark where planted.
Plant spring flowering bulbs. Bulbs can be planted up to six weeks after first fall frost. Fertilize existing bulb beds with bone meal, Milorganite, or 5-5-5 fertilizer.
Harvest gladiolas at least six weeks after bloom and before ground freezes. Cure for three days at 80 degrees before storing. Label and store at 40-45 degrees in open trays.
Remove iris leaves to prevent overwintering of iris borer eggs. Cut leaves to four-inch fans.
Store tuberose begonias at 45 degrees F, tuberous rooted begonias at 45-50 degrees, and caladium at 60 degrees.
After killing frost, rose bush foliage should be stripped and old leaves cleaned from bed. Shortly before ground freezes, roses should be given a good, deep soaking. Prune branches enough to prevent whipping around in wind or to fit under rose cones.
Sow seeds of hardy annuals: cleome, pinks, candytuft, larkspur, bachelor buttons and calendula. Mark where planted.
Plant Jerusalem artichoke during the last two weeks of the month.
Prepare vegetable garden soil for early spring planting. Remove old stalks to prevent insect and disease problems next year. Spread manure; incorporate into soil.
Rejuvenate rhubarb by dividing into quarters and replanting.
Cut back asparagus ferns and dispose of them to prevent insect and disease problems next year. Incorporate manure into soil and mulch with straw.
Use mulch around Brussels sprouts to moderate soil temperature and prolong harvest.
Water plants well for more cold tolerance.
Plant garlic 2-3 inches deep and cover with 4-6 inches of straw mulch.
Rake, chop, and compost any fallen leaves from the lawn.
Fertilize shade trees when leaf color changes and leaves drop.
Plant dormant deciduous trees and shrubs from now until the ground freezes. A two-inch layer of mulch reduces freezing and thawing, which can damage roots.
If fertilizing lawn one time a year, apply it in the third week of October. If fertilizing twice a year, apply in October and early June. If fertilizing three times a year, include a September application.
Water evergreens and foundation plantings before the ground freezes.
Protect woody ornamentals and fruit trees against mice