September 2020

Gradually cut back on watering as temperatures go down.
Water lawns and gardens 2 times a week.
Water established trees, slowly and deeply, once a week.
Water fruit trees 2 times a week.
Water shrubs 2 times a week.
Water annuals and perennials in containers 2 times a week depending on pot size and temperature.
New plantings will require more water the first year.
Inspect and repair drip irrigation as necessary and reset timers to twice a week.

Fertilize annual container gardens with a high phosphorus blooming-formula weekly for continued blooms throughout fall and winter.
Fertilize cool-season vegetables with a good organic vegetable food.
Fertilize roses for the last time this season.
Fertilize trees and shrubs for the last time this season.
Fertilize lawns with a low-nitrogen fertilizer for the last time this season.

Replace summer-flowering annuals with cool-season plants such as pansies, mums, ornamental kale and snapdragons.
Plant perennials so they will acclimate over winter for better summer-blooming. Put super-phosphate in the holes when planting for even better blooming!
Plant up or refresh your containers with cool-season annuals and/or small shrubs. Remember the saying, “Thriller, Filler, Spiller!”
Plant native trees, shrubs and perennials for beautiful low-water xeric landscape.
Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs because they will establish better over winter.
Mow established lawns as needed.
Continue to remove spent blooms from roses and plants to encourage repeat flowering.
Refresh mulch as needed to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Sod a new lawn area.
Remove thatch from established lawns and reseed thin areas.
Broadcast some wildflower seeds in a naturalized area.
Plant spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and hyacinth. Use Dutch Bulb food when planting.
Bring in houseplants that have summered outside before the last frost. Inspect them well for insects and damage. Treat as needed.
Prune summer-flowering shrubs such as crape myrtle, butterfly bush and rose of sharon.
Decorate for fall with chili ristras, pumpkins and mums!

Keep an eye out for aphids, spider mites and other insects. Eliminate as needed.
Use BT to prevent damage to your plants from budworms (on geraniums and petunias blossoms) and tomato horn worm (on tomato plants).
Bring in samples of insects or damaged plants to our pharmacy in plastic baggies for solutions to the problem areas. We can also identify plants for you.
Inspect roses and other foliage for powdery mildew and disease. Treat as needed.
Continue to kill weeds with a good weed killer. Do not let them go to seed to prevent future generations of weeds.

Continue to harvest vegetables and fruit as they ripen.
Clean up vegetable gardens by removing plants that are no longer producing.
Plant cool-season vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, lettuce and spinach.
Plant cool-season vegetables from seed, such as carrots, lettuce and spinach.