September in Your Garden:

Bedding Plants

As the month closes as the fall season begins, clear the garden of failing summer annuals. Pick off spent flowers to encourage new blooms. Turn the soil to aerate; level. Plant Primrose, Calendula, SunPatiens, Ivy Geranium, Begonia, Pansies, Snapdragons, Stock, Sweet Alyssum, Lobelia, Dianthus, and Viola.

Planting and Transplanting

Consider planting a fire-retardant groundcover on a bare slope or next to the house.  Some of these include Algerian Ivy, African Daisy, Baccharis, Myoporum, Rosea Ice Plant, Gazania and Honeysuckle. Select trees and shrubs that won’t necessarily protect you from fire, but won’t add to the situation either. Good choices would be Aloe, Acacia, Bougainvillea, Rockrose or Yucca. Water and fertilize regularly to maintain vigor and keep moisture levels up.

Fruiting Plants

Citrus and avocado trees need half their annual doses of actual nitrogen now, plus one application of iron and micronutrients.

Lawns

Reduce watering. Plant or refresh cool season grasses such as fescues and ryes now.

Roses

Your roses might have stopped blooming by this time, but with a little careful pruning and fertilizing you will be able to force them to bloom one or even two more times before the year is finished. Remove all dead and weak growth. Remove spent flowers and any seed pods (rose hips). Water deeply once a week if needed. Fertilize with Gro-Power.

Maintenance

Prevent weedy poa annua from germinating by applying a pre-emergent herbicide like Amaze Grass and Weed Preventer. Roses and other plants are susceptible to mildew now.  To control, don’t water overhead or in the evenings. Thin out old leaves for better air circulation and remove any debris, particularly under deciduous trees which might start losing their leaves this month. Spray with Neem Oil to control.

September is the Month for Hot, Dry Santa Ana Winds. Be Prepared.

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