September

Watering

• Continue to monitor the mulch around your plants.
• Cut back on watering as temperatures decrease.

Fertilizing

• Fertilize your flowering plants with a high phosphorous fertilizer.
• Dead head (remove spent flowers) to encourage new blooms.

Lawn Care

• For Bermuda lawns, water at least 1 inch per week.
• Re-seed over existing cool season lawns.

Insects and Diseases

• Continue to check for bores, slugs and snails and treat accordingly.
• Continue to treat for bores on trees.
• Watch out for aphids, spider mites, caterpillars and other insects that can affect your garden.

Vegetables

• Harvest and roast your green chile.
• Continue to clean fruits and vegetables regularly.
• Remove any vegetable plants that have stopped producing to reduce the chance of disease or insects.
• Garlic and onions are ready when their tops start to bend over. Remove their tops after they have dried and store in a cool place.
• Plant cool season vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and kale.

Miscellaneous

• Prune summer flowering shrubs.
• Continue to remove weeds by pulling them or spraying with appropriate herbicides. Don’t let them go to seed.
• Continue to dead head your flowers.
• Re-set sprinkler timers.
• This is the best time to plant perennials, trees and shrubs to give them the greatest chance to get established before spring winds kick in.
• Plant your spring flowering bulbs. Use Dutch Bulb Food to give them a boost for years to come.
• Start thinking about bringing in any house plants to avoid frost. Also a good time to take out any house plants that may need one last shower before old man winter moves in.
• Harvest continues …