September Steps To Prep Your Garden For Fall

From Pinecrest Gardens:

September 11, 2020

September....already!?

Time has been absolutely flying. Perhaps its the uncertainty in current events, or maybe it's just the sense of always being busy. Whatever the reason, September came fast for me.

September is a month I have a love/hate relationship with as far as gardening is concerned, and here's why. What I struggle with in September is the residual summer woes; extreme heat, rain, humidity, uncontrollable weeds, pests, oh the list goes on. However on the other hand, September brings a fun sense of excitement in the garden. Now is the time that we, as south Floridians, really dig in and get the garden ready for our main growing season. So, I'll be breaking down some of the things I'm currently doing in the garden this month, and some things that should be on the radar for the coming season as well.

My garden right now is turning the page on summer. The zinnia's are about all bloomed out, the rosemary is dying for a break in rain, and honestly the beds are begging to be replanted. This is a huge month of transition for the garden in south Florida. It's time for a good fall cleaning as we prepare for a much anticipated growing season.

Seed head from an end of season summer sunflower

To prepare the garden for fall, this month I am:

1. Removing all tired annuals from the summer. These old herbs that were hanging on, sunflower seed heads, sad remains of zinnias and any bits and bobs from last season. Believe it or not, you can still get a decent harvest over the summer, if you're growing things that make sense for the season. September, though, is a time for closure of the season past, and a time to look forward to the lush season ahead! Don't be shy, out with the old!

2. Prepping the beds for replanting. With the old plants out, you've got to put in some work to the soil. This involves adding amendments such as composts and new soil to adjust for deficiencies, nematodes and the like- for more info on this, and cover cropping, check out the post on The Summer Garden, here. I'm also doing any last bits of solarizing, suppressing weed seeds, and having mulch on hand, ready to cover bare soil. Just be mindful that some places in South Fl keep an ordinance on the non- application of Fertilizer in September. Why? Because heavy rains cause runoff, leading to algae blooms or chemical distribution issues. Just check with the extension office before you go fertilizer crazy.

adding in compost and adjusting soil mixtures in raised beds

3. Composting. Composting is a year round activity, but it is a garden task that becomes especially important in September. The intense heat and rain that come with September allow materials to quickly break down, giving us a jump on compost for the season. Plus, since you're going to be pulling out old plants, add them to your pile! Your garden will thank you for it.

4. Starting seeds! Starting seeds is the BEST thing about September. I personally use a planting calendar, that I've been working on for many years of gardening trial and error, but it's easy enough to look on the IFAS Extension website of what to plant in South Florida here. They have great information and calendars to follow throughout the season, that will help you get started. October and onward is really time to do the bulk of the sowing, but starting some in September is always proactive. Plus, by September I can hardly wait to get started planting seeds!

potted up seedlings5. Planning. I usually try to make it a point to take some time over the summer to assess the previous growing season, and better plan for fall. Included in this planning time, I will be going through my old seeds, taking inventory; ordering new, discarding or donating old. The planning part of early fall is essential, because it can ensure you're fully prepared for the season ahead. Don't skip this part! Keeping a garden journal is a helpful tool, so that instead of pulling from memory, you've got a detailed account of real time. Things I may include in a garden journal are drawings of the beds to remember what grew where, notes about fertilization, notes about varieties of plants I tried, or wanted to try, germination rates of current seeds, etc. Having this planning journal helps me decide how I want my garden to look in the season ahead, and it really keeps me on track.

After the garden is cleared, the beds are prepped, the seeds are started and the garden is planned, I promise you, October will be right around the corner! So, while it's not quite fall, and not quite summer, September is an ideal time for garden tasks. There is never a shortage of work to do in a South Florida garden, and that especially rings true in September.

Enjoy this transition time, and if you have questions about your fall garden, you can contact me at lbray@pinecrest-fl.gov, and I'm happy to share more.

Happy Digging!

This press release was produced by the Pinecrest Gardens. The views expressed are the author's own.