September Garden Checklist

Gardening & Horticulture

We’re still about a month away from our first frost, usually around Oct. 12 in Orleans County. That means we still have time to plant! Through mid-September, you can sow cool season crops like spinach, lettuce, chard, kale, arugula and even cilantro. Consider finding garlic and shallots to plant this fall. These bulbs can go in the ground starting in late September and as late as mid-November for harvest in mid-July.

In the Garden

Remember to check out the Orleans Community Seed Share, the seed library based at the Orleans County CCE offices in Albion.
Speaking of seeds, now is the time to start saving seeds from your favorite edible and ornamental plants. Join us Sept. 20 for Seed Collecting, Part 2 — Wet Processing: Learn practical, hands-on methods for harvesting, processing, cleaning, and storing seeds using the wet processing method. You’ll discover which seeds are best harvested using this method. You’ll also learn the critical role of timing, environmental conditions, and proper preservation strategies. The class is part of our Seeds to Splendor education series. Stay after to explore the Orleans Community Seed Share, a seed library featuring vegetables, herbs, and flowers. The class begins at 10 a.m. in the Education Center at the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension offices, 12690 Route 31, Albion. Suggested donation: $5. To register, call 585-798-4265 or email klo54 [at] cornell.edu (klo54[at]cornell[dot]edu).
Think about incorporating some season-extending strategies. Simple structures such as low tunnels, cloches and cold frames can help protect plants as temperatures begin to drop.
If you put houseplants outside, start getting them ready to come back indoors, especially as nighttime temperatures get down into the 50s. Repot the plants, if necessary. Check them for insect pests, and treat them before you bring them back inside.

Around Your Yard

Now is a great time to order spring-blooming bulbs to plant this fall. Think about the colors that brought you joy this year and where you’d like to see blooms. If you had trouble with rabbits, deer or other creatures this year, try some more pest-resistant options.
Survey your garden to determine if there are any areas that may need additional planting. Fall is a fabulous time to plant perennials, as well as deciduous trees and shrubs. Cooler temperatures and more rain (hopefully!) will help perennials and trees get established before winter.
Wait to plant evergreens, such as rhododendron and arborvitae, in the spring. Evergreens tend to lose moisture through their leaves during winter and are susceptible to winter injury before their root systems are established.
Fall is also a great time to divide your perennials. Not only will splitting perennials give you more plants for free, it will also help those plants perform better by giving them more room for their roots to grow.
Consider saving some of your flower seeds. Zinnias, marigolds, cosmos and calendula produce dry seed heads that are super easy to save. Learn more about saving flower seeds.
To get ready for next year, consider taking a soil sample and sending it in for analysis. A soil test can tell you what nutrients are in your soil, the state of its health or even if you have contaminants harmful to humans, plants or the environment. Getting your results before winter can help you get a jump on preparing your garden for spring. Learn more about soil samples and testing.
Prepare new beds for fall planting. Sheet mulching with cardboard can be an effective strategy for smothering grass to create a new area for plantings.
Continue to prune dead, diseased, weak or crossing branches in trees and shrubs. For more details on when and how to prune, check out this illustrated guide to pruning.
Keep up the good fight against the weeds. It may feel like a losing battle, but every little bit helps. Check out this handy weed ID tool to identify what’s coming up in your yard.

Lawn Care

If parts of your lawn died or thinned over the summer, now through mid-September is the best time to reseed. Cool-season grasses germinate quickly, and they will grow strong with warm days and cooler nights.
Continue mowing to a height of about 2.5 to 3 inches, until grass stops growing, usually when daytime temperatures are consistently below 50 degrees.

Preserve Your Harvest

Harvest your herbs and freeze or dry them to use the rest of the year. Take cuttings to start new plants and enjoy fresh herbs indoors through the winter.
For fruits and vegetables, consider freezing, pickling or canning the best of the summer bounty. The National Center for Home Food Preservation offers safe and simple strategies.
Consider attending a workshop by the Orleans County CCE Master Food Preservers to learn more. Join them on Sept. 3 for Kimchi, from 6 to 9 p.m. This hands-on class will allow participants to learn how to use a variety of vegetables to make this spicy, fermented Korean side dish.
Each participant will prepare their own kimchi and take it home in their own Mason jar fermentation kit. This class will be held in the Orleans County CCE Trolley kitchen, 12690 State Rt 31, Albion. Fee is $15. Pre-registration is required. Call 585-798-4265 or email klo54 [at] cornell.edu (klo54[at]cornell[dot]edu).