September Gardening To Do List

• Sow wildflower seeds
• Water to winterize trees and shrubs
• Clean up vegetable and perennial gardens
• Plant spring-blooming bulbs
• Apply winterizing formula lawn fertilizer (with high potassium)
• Clean out greenhouse and sterilize bench tops
• Sow salad greens and make or buy a cold frame for frost protection
• Bring in bonsai, scented geraniums, poinsettias and Christmas cactus and set up grow lights if necessary
• Take cuttings of annuals and herbs for indoor rooting
• Clean off birdfeeders; clean out and put away birdbaths for the winter

Zone 2

• Prune tomato roots to hasten ripening
• Winterize trees and shrubs with deep waterings
• Dethatch and aerate lawns
• Sow salad greens and get the coldframe ready
• Clean up rose bed and apply fungicide one last time to mildew and blackspot prone varieties
• Harvest apples; put spoiled fruit in compost pile
• Clean off birdfeeders and restock with seed
• Deadhead chrysanthemum plants to prolong bloom
• Plant garlic for harvest next summer
• Sow wildflower seed for bloom next spring

Zone 3

• Divide peonies and other spring and summer-blooming perennials
• Plant perennials
• Plant bare-root and containerized trees and shrubs
• Sow wildflower seed for spring bloom
• Plant spring-blooming bulbs
• Dethatch and aerate lawns
• If September rainfall is scarce, water trees and shrubs to keep them supple and prevent winter damage
• Clean and restock birdfeeders
• Plant garlic for harvest next summer
• Set out bareroot peonies

Zone 4

• Harvest apples and store in a cool place
• Plant garlic
• Dethatch and aerate the lawn
• Clean out rose beds and apply fungicide one last time to susceptible varieties
• Plant perennials
• Move tender houseplants, etc. indoors after rinsing and repotting, and set up a grow light to supplement natural light
• Clean and restock birdfeeders
• Begin to move tropical water lilies and other tender aquatics indoors
• Plant spring-blooming bulbs; refrigerate those you intend to force
• Set out bareroot peonies

Zone 5

• Set out transplants of cool-weather vegetables
• Plant winter-hardy pansies and fall annuals (calendula, dianthus, ornamental cabbage and kale)
• Plant tag teams of perennials and spring-blooming bulbs that will complement each other or bloom in sequence next season
• Water trees and shrubs when rainfall is scarce to "winterize" them
• Dethatch and aerate the lawn
• Dehead chrysanthemum plants to keep flower buds forming through the fall
• Clean out rose beds; apply fungicide; leave hips for winter color and bird food
• Prune summer-bearing raspberries
• Mow back strawberry plants; remove weeds and remulch
• Move tender houseplants, etc. indoors after rinsing and repotting, and set up a grow light to supplement natural light

Zone 6

• Set out cool-weather vegetable transplants, including salad greens, broccoli, kale and cabbage
• Plant garlic and leeks
• Prune cane fruits such as raspberries and blackberries
• Plant winter pansies and fall annuals (calendula, dianthus, ornamental cabbage and kale)
• Plant tag teams of perennials and spring-blooming bulbs that will complement each other or bloom in sequence next season
• As tops die back, harvest potatoes, onions and garlic
• Plant peonies
• Plant fall-blooming bulbs to brighten up fading window boxes, planters and in drifts among ornamental grasses
• Continue to harvest herbs, grasses and flowers for drying
• Divide peonies, bearded iris and other spring- and summer-blooming perennials.

Zone 7

• Set out transplants of cool-weather vegetables
• Prune cane fruits such as raspberries and blackberries
• Plant winter pansies and fall annuals (calendula, dianthus, ornamental cabbage and kale)
• Plant peonies
• Plant fall-blooming bulbs to brighten up fading window boxes, planters and in drifts among ornamental grasses
• Continue to harvest herbs and flowers for drying
• Divide peonies, bearded iris and other spring- and summer-blooming perennials
• Plant bareroot trees and shrubs
• Order sweet pea seedlings for fall planting
• Plant herbs and groundcovers as the weather cools

• Plant bareroot trees and shrubs
• Order sweet pea seedlings for fall planting
• Set out second crop of tomato and pepper plants
• Sow seeds of green beans, squash, pumpkins and cucumbers
• Divide bearded iris and other overcrowded spring- and summer-blooming perennials
• Prune cane fruits
• Continue to harvest herbs and flowers for drying
• Sow seeds of perennials and keep soil moist if rainfall is scarce
• Start cool-weather vegetables from seed now or set out store-bought transplants later in the month
• Plant winter pansies and fall annuals (calendula, dianthus, ornamental cabbage and kale

Zone 9

• Order sweet pea seedlings for fall planting
• Plant fall- and winter-blooming perennial plants
• Prune summer-flowering shrubs and vines
• Plant winter pansies and fall annuals (calendula, dianthus, ornamental cabbage and kale) later in the month
• Deeply irrigate trees and shrubs every few weeks
• Plan for spring bulb gardens by seeking out specialty bulbs (species tulips, Dutch iris, anemone, ranunculus) that thrive in rainy winter, dry summer climates
• Groom and fertilize hanging basket and container plants to keep them thriving through the fall
• Sow cool-weather vegetable seeds
• Clean out rose beds and reapply fungicide to disease-prone varieties
• Sow seeds of perennials and keep soil moist if rainfall is scarce

Zone 10

• Order roses for fall planting
• Sow cool-season vegetable seeds
• Prune summer-flowering shrubs and vines after bloom
• Sow seeds of perennials and keep soil moist if rainfall is scarce
• Deeply irrigate trees and shrubs every few weeks
• Plant fall- and winter-blooming perennials
• Groom and fertilize hanging basket and container plants to keep them thriving through the fall
• Set out second round of tomato and pepper plants
• Sow seeds of green beans, squash, pumpkins and cucumbers
• Clean out rose beds, prune lightly and reapply fungicide to disease-prone varieties

Zone 11

• Sow seeds of desert wildflowers
• Groom and fertilize hanging basket and container plants to keep them thriving through the fall
• Sow seed of cool-weather vegetables
• Order roses for fall planting
• Set out second round of tomato and pepper plants
• Sow seeds of green beans, squash, pumpkins and cucumbers
• Deeply irrigate trees and shrubs every few weeks
• Clean out rose beds, prune lightly and reapply fungicide to disease-prone varieties
• Continue to harvest summer vegetables to encourage more fruits to form
• Build a compost pile for fall soil improvement

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