September in the Garden

For those of us who love to garden – and for those who just love gardens, September in Maine is
one of the most glorious times of the year to be outside and enjoying the beauty of our
surroundings. Long gone are the peonies and poppies of early summer, but in their place are the
sunflowers and black-eyed Susans. For the vegetable gardener, now is the time to harvest and reap
the rewards of your diligence and patience!
Warm days, no humidity, and cool nights make us and the plants happy this time of year. It’s a
perfect time to get into the garden and pull up any weeds, being as careful as possible to not let
seeds drop. You’ll want to continue to dead head your roses and other blooms to have them last as
far into the season as possible. There is still time to plant perennials for next season but, do be sure
to water them daily up to the first frost to make sure their roots get well established before the
ground freezes for the season. While it is still early for raking leaves, it will be another month or so
before the bulk of them have fallen, it is a good idea to plan an area for your lawn leaves to winter
over. If you have a spot to let them pile up and decompose, they will serve two purposes – one, over
time you will have lovely compost to add to your soil – two, you will have a winter home for
beneficial bugs and bees to hibernate. It is also ok to leave your leaves in your garden beds over the
winter. It will help keep the plants insulated and add beneficial nutrients to your soil.
As the growing season winds down, it’s not too early to start thinking about next year’s garden. Now
is the time to order or purchase your spring bulbs. There are many wonderful nurseries in our area
that offer a wide variety – some that will bloom as early as March! Online sites or catalogues are
great resources if you plan on ordering in large quantities. Think about planting some galanthus,
commonly known as snowdrops, for an early spring thrill – they will pop their delicate white and
green buds through the snow, just when you really need a sign that warm weather will come our way
again. The crocuses will soon follow. Of course, there are dozens of varieties of daffodils, tulips, and
others that will bloom at various times through May. Try some giant globe allium to add a bit of
excitement and vertical interest to the late spring garden. If your yard is prone to deer visits, tulips
may not be in your best interest (although it certainly will be in the deer’s best interest!) – you likely
will find their beautiful blooms chomped off just as they open! Daffodils come in a variety of yellow,
white, and orange, sizes and shapes – and the deer typically won’t touch them.
While you may think it is time to put away the mower – it’s not quite. Grass will keep growing up to
the first hard frost. Be sure to keep fallen leaves off your lawn to keep it healthy for the next season.
It’s also a good time to give your lawn one more round of fertilizer and throw down some seed in
bare patches. Ask your local nursery for a good organic fertilizer that will encourage root growth
and help prevent disease. If you aren’t sure of status of your soil, a soil test can help determine
exactly which nutrients it needs most. A thick, healthy lawn does not encourage weeds, and does not
need pesticides or weed killers – the more we learn about the damage they cause to beneficial
pollinators and water sources, the more we should avoid their use. A few dandelions or clover
sprinkled throughout will attract bees and help keep our environment healthy – and still keep the
lawn green.
Photos:
There are many beautiful Sedums – Autumn Joy is a perennial favorite for its beautiful fall color and
year-round interest.