September 2007

Here we are in September, school has begun and it is time to think about getting our gardens ready for the fall and winter. This is a good time to take a walk around your garden and think about which plants would be better in different places. This could be because they are growing taller than you expected or perhaps because you have too many pinks or yellows together or maybe it has just gotten too big for the space and needs to be divided and moved. While you can divide and/or move plants in the spring, if you do it in the fall they have a chance to establish and grow good roots. Then when they start to grow again in the spring they will not have the shock of being moved!

When you are moving perennials remember these few tips. You should do your transplanting in the morning or late in the day...not during the heat of midday. Choose the new site for the plant and get the hole dug and soil prepared and then dig up the plant. With the very dry weather that we have been having, when I transplant I fill the new hole with water to the top and let it drain before I add some new soil and then the plant. Then I water it thoroughly again. You should water newly transplanted perennials every day for two weeks. By then they will be able to go it on their own.

This is a great time to shop at one or more of our many local garden centers. There are lots of great deals and new plants for you to try. And again they will be able to establish themselves this fall so they can be vigorous next spring!

If you put your house plants out for the summer as I do, this is the time to start to bring them in. I trim them back and repot them. You also want to give the leaves a good wash to make sure that you don't bring in any outside pests. By repotting you will also ensure that there are no insects or insect eggs in the soil.

I am starting to bring in my humming bird feeders. Up until a few days ago I was seeing quite a few hummingbirds - but in just the last few days I am noticing that the sightings are fewer. You can leave them out as long as you have flowers in your yard, but when your flowers are gone you should bring them in. You don't want the young birds to be dependant on you feeders - they should be dependant on the flowers for food. That way they will know when it is time to leave.

Fall is a good time to do pruning, but you should wait until the 15th of the month to start. By waiting until then you will assure that the plant will not sprout new growth that will be too tender to survive winter.

Well, I am on my way to a garden center to do some shopping!