It’s hard to believe it’s already September in Guelph which, for me, is a beautiful month for planting! With the sun out in full force this week now’s not the time to shy away from getting those fall favourites into the dirt. Here’s what I want you to start working on right now to both enjoy the last warm days of summer and get ready for the cooler, shorter days to come.
There’s some real value in getting your garden fall-ready, so here are my seasonal tips for September!
Fall is a rejuvenating time of year and a great season to recharge those hard-working plants. In Guelph, we’re lucky to have a climate that provides the perfect environment for some of my favourite crops to flourish and we’ve got a good opportunity here to extend our growing season.
Remember—the gardening season is far from over, and right now we’re looking at planting things like carrots, kale, spinach, radishes, and cabbage, all of which are pretty famous for withstanding some chillier temperatures. It’s also a great time for garlic, and thankfully it’s just arrived at Royal City Nursery!
You can also get started working with your perennials because this is the best time to divide and transplant anything that’s outgrown their spaces. This is going to rejuvenate the plants, but also ensure their health and vitality for years to come. Remember perennials need lots of water and mulch to protect the roots during the winter months, so get moving on that now, too.
Last month I told you about slugs, snails, and (ewww) grubs! As September gets going, there might be potential threats to your garden in the pest world aside from these creepy critters, but the good news is that the cooler temperatures of fall actually slow down some common garden pests. For the most part, we don’t see a lot of insect damage in September because the day length is getting shorter. You can totally keep looking for aphids in the garden, but know that their active life cycles can be limited as the weather cools.
What I do want you to watch out for is insects on your house plants. We want to make sure that when you’re transitioning your house plants indoors you’re spraying them with an insecticidal soap. In general, for late season pest control it is too early to use a dormant spray. Once the leaves fall off your plants, a dormant spray is totally appropriate on anything you’ve had fungus issues with.
When it comes to adding a pop of colour to your Guelph garden, container planting for fall tops the list. We’ve got tons of fall mums fully stocked at Royal City Nursery which make a nice way to transition containers into a fresh fall vibe. You can play with lots of colour here, like rich golds, deep reds, or fiery oranges, and add in some gorgeous ornamental cabbages, peppers and cool-season grasses, too. You’ll still need to keep up with the watering as the temperatures cool down, though; even fall flowers get thirsty!
We also want to get outside and dig up any tender bulbs and tubers that are done flowering. You might still have dahlias going for another couple of weeks or so, but your spring flowering bulbs—like daffodils, crocus, and tulips—can be dried out and stored indoors over winter. You can also plant your colchicum and fall-flowering crocus now for some extra fall colour.
Colder nights are on the way for Ontario, so I’m thinking it’s time to get those vacationing houseplants back indoors. If you gave your indoor plant babies the summer on the patio, it’s best to start the transition back now before any sign of frost. Before bringing your houseplants indoors, though, inspect them for lingering pests and any signs of disease. It’s much easier to address issues while the plants are still outside, so they don’t wreak havoc on other indoor-dwelling plants! Consider trimming back any overgrown or leggy growth to ensure a more compact and healthy indoor plant.
In the event you need some more info on getting your houseplants ready for their seasonal return, I will be hosting a seminar this Saturday, September 9th, to answer all of those pressing questions, and give you the expert tips you’re probably looking for! Whatever you’re up to this fall, remember to get these important fall chores out of the way now while there is still warmth in the ground and some opportunity to grow things in the garden.
I hope to see you this weekend, but feel free to drop by Royal City Nursery any time for all of your horticultural needs for any season, and stay tuned to our blog next week for a deep-dive into planting your bulbs for spring!
