September may signal the beginning of fall, but gardeners in Wayne County still have plenty to do. With warm days, gradually cooler nights and the transition toward autumn, this month is an important time to prepare lawns, gardens and landscapes for the months ahead.
Whether you’re growing vegetables, maintaining your lawn or planning next spring’s flower beds, here are several gardening jobs to tackle during September.
Plant Your Fall Vegetable Garden
Eastern North Carolina’s relatively mild fall weather provides an opportunity to keep the vegetable garden producing well beyond summer.
September is a good time to plant or continue planting cool-season vegetables such as:
- Lettuce and other leafy greens
- Spinach
- Kale
- Collards
- Mustard greens
- Radishes
- Turnips
- Carrots
- Broccoli and cabbage transplants
Keep newly planted seeds and transplants consistently moist, particularly during hot September afternoons. A light layer of mulch can help conserve moisture and moderate soil temperatures.
Give Your Lawn Some Attention
September is an important month for lawns, but what you should do depends on the type of grass you have.
Warm-season grasses common in Eastern North Carolina, including Bermuda, centipede, St. Augustine and zoysia, will soon begin slowing their growth as temperatures cool. Avoid encouraging excessive late-season growth with heavy applications of nitrogen fertilizer.
Cool-season lawns, particularly tall fescue, enter one of their most important maintenance periods during the fall. September is a prime time to seed or overseed fescue lawns and repair areas damaged by summer heat.
Before applying fertilizer, consider having your soil tested so you’ll know what nutrients your lawn actually needs.
Don’t Stop Watering
September can still bring plenty of heat to Wayne County, and rainfall can be unpredictable.
Keep an eye on soil moisture around recently planted trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables. Deep watering less frequently is generally better than frequent shallow watering because it encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil.
Water early in the morning when possible. This reduces evaporation while allowing foliage to dry during the day.
Refresh Flower Beds
As summer annuals begin looking tired, September is a good time to start cleaning up flower beds.
Remove dead or diseased plant material and pull weeds before they have an opportunity to produce additional seeds.
Don’t be too quick to remove every fading flower, however. Some seed heads provide food for birds, while late-blooming plants can provide valuable nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
As temperatures cool, begin planning for fall color with plants such as pansies and violas.
Start Thinking About Spring Bulbs
It might seem early to think about spring flowers, but now is a good time to begin planning where you want bulbs to appear next year.
Daffodils, tulips and other spring-flowering bulbs are generally planted during the fall after soil temperatures have cooled.
Choose locations with good drainage and adequate sunlight. Buying bulbs early can also give you a better selection before popular varieties disappear from garden centers.
Watch for Fall Garden Pests
Don’t assume garden pests disappear when summer ends.
Caterpillars, aphids and other insects can continue feeding on vegetables and landscape plants during September. Fall vegetable crops such as cabbage, broccoli, kale and collards can be particularly attractive to caterpillars.
Inspect plants regularly, including the undersides of leaves, so problems can be identified before significant damage occurs.
Clean Up — But Not Too Much
September is a good month to remove diseased plants, fallen fruit and other unhealthy material from the garden. Keeping these areas clean can reduce places where certain pests and diseases survive.
Healthy leaves and plant material can often be composted rather than thrown away.
At the same time, consider leaving some healthy stems, leaves and natural areas for beneficial insects and wildlife. A perfectly spotless landscape isn’t always the healthiest ecosystem.
Plant Trees and Shrubs
As temperatures begin moderating, fall becomes an excellent season for planting many trees and shrubs.
Fall planting gives roots an opportunity to become established during cooler weather before plants face the heat of another Wayne County summer.
Remember that newly planted trees and shrubs still require regular watering. Don’t assume cooler temperatures mean new plants no longer need moisture.
Prepare for Hurricane Season
September falls within the heart of Atlantic hurricane season, making storm preparation another important part of garden maintenance in Eastern North Carolina.
Inspect trees for dead or damaged limbs, secure lightweight outdoor decorations and containers, and make sure drainage areas are clear of debris.
Avoid attempting to remove large or dangerous limbs yourself. Trees near homes, power lines or other structures should be evaluated by a qualified professional.
A Little Work Now Pays Off Later
September is a transition month in Wayne County. Summer isn’t quite finished, but fall is beginning to make its presence known.
A little attention to vegetable gardens, lawns, flower beds, trees and shrubs now can keep your landscape looking good throughout the fall while giving you a head start on next spring.
And after another hot Eastern North Carolina summer, September’s cooler mornings might make getting back into the garden a little more enjoyable.
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