September is a great month to start seeds, do some cleanup work and get your garden ready for planting once the weather cools off. Here are some September gardening tips to help you get your yard ready for fall.
Protect Against Wild Fires
It’s fire season. Protect your home against fires by cutting and removing dead leaves and limbs from trees and shrubs, especially if they grow near your home. It’s best to remove branches growing six feet or less from the ground, any that overhang the roof or eaves, and woody vegetation that is growing up against structures. Also clear leaves from gutters.
Store any wood you’re saving from your cuttings far away from your home or any structures. Water trees deeply. The extra moisture adds to their fire-resistance.
Feed Plants
Feed established trees, shrubs, ground covers, tropical plants and your vegetable garden, but skip drought-tolerant Mediterranean plants and California natives. Fertilize roses for fall bloom. If camellias haven’t set buds yet, feed them a no or low nitrogen fertilizer that promotes flowering.
Buy Seeds and Bulbs
Buy wildflower seeds now so you are ready to sow them before the rains start. For more information, take a look at my gardening post from September 2019.
This is the time to plant sweet pea seeds so they’ll be in flower in December. Plant them in front of a wall, fence or trellis that they can climb.
In addition to daffodils and tulips, there are many beautiful bulbs that are suited to our climate. You should be finding them in nurseries now. Watsonia, freesia, Spanish bluebell, ranunculus, saffron crocus, iris and gladiolus are a few that will reward you with plenty of flowers.
A lot of information for September Gardening Tips 2020 comes from the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. They are a great resource for all of your gardening needs including planting, pests, vegetables, and water use. They even have a free hotline where you can get your home gardening and pest control problems answered.