It’s September, spider month! If you’re like me, you walk through your garden this time of year with a hand or stick in front of you just to keep from walking face-first into spider webs. The brightly colored orb weavers are especially fun. But although they are large and can bite, they won’t unless they are threatened and can’t escape. They are an important part of your yard’s ecosystem because they eat flies, moths, beetles, wasps and mosquitoes.

Here are a few September gardening tips to help you keep your yard beautiful and blooming this month.