Garden Talk - Late September in our gardens

By JEAN THOMSON

Master Gardener

Last week?s cool temperatures gave us a preview of fall! Even though we probably don?t need to worry about frost just yet, late September is quite different from early September in most of our garden spaces.

On our lawns, Sept. 20 is the standard last-date-for seeding. It will still be possible to lay sod for a new lawn, and certainly this is a good time to feed established lawns.

In flower gardens, some annuals may be spent. They can be pulled up and replaced by some of the pansies or flowering kale that look so colorful in garden centers. These plants will look great even after light frost and will bloom again next spring. Finish up your work with perennials as soon as possible, whether you?re adding new cultivars or dividing existing plants.

Tender bulbs such as gladiola will need to be dug soon and cured for over-winter storage. Now is also a good time to bring in tropical plants such as hibiscus. Be sure to check carefully for any pests hoping to hitch a ride as you bring in tuberose begonias, calla lilies, caladiums, asparagus ferns, and other plants and as you take cuttings to root inside.

Stop deadheading roses now so that hips can form and the plants will harden off to prepare for winter.

The vegetable garden is likely still a busy area. Continue to harvest tomatoes, peppers, and squash. If you haven?t planted fall greens yet, or want to keep planting, have some frost protection available to cover crops on cold nights. A supply of old sheets and blankets will work well to hold in heat overnight. If you are growing small quantities, consider planting in containers that can be moved as the weather dictates. Of course, continue to pull weeds, remove damaged plant parts and monitor water needs.

As you harvest, weed and cull, continue to add appropriate material to the compost pile. Take advantage of pleasant days to spread a couple of inches of compost wherever you?ll be planting bulbs next month. On rainy days, make some notes about what did and did not work this summer. Gardeners are always well-advised to keep an eye on the future while they tend to the present moment?s needs.