September Garden Calendar | Johnson County K-State Extension Lawn & Garden Tips
Lawns
- Seed bluegrass or tall fescue lawns early in the month for best results.
- Sod new lawns or dead spots for quick recovery.
- Renovate bluegrass or tall fescue by verticutting then overseeding.
- Only overseed with recommended rates for best longevity.
- Core aerate cool-season turf to aid in root development and thatch breakdown.
- Fertilize cool-season grasses with high-nitrogen sources of fertilizer.
- Mow turf at least 3 inches. Sharpen the mower blade for a clean cut.
- Remember to blow your grass clippings back into your lawn instead of letting them run down the storm drain.
- Continue to mow Zoysia, but do not fertilize or aerate this late in the season.
Vegetables and Fruits
- Continue to harvest vegetables.
- Pick apples and pears and store them in a cool place to extend freshness.
- Harvest pumpkins when the flesh is completely orange. Avoid carrying by the stem.
- Harvest winter squash when the rind cannot be punctured with your fingernail.
- Plant lettuce, spinach, and radishes for fall harvest.
- Remove weeds from garden plantings before they go to seed.
- Dig tender herbs from the garden and place them in pots for indoor use this winter.
- Remove small tomatoes to increase the late development of more mature fruits.
- Spade or till garden plots incorporating fallen leaves or grass clippings to improve soil quality.
- Plant garlic cloves for next year’s crop.
Flowers
- Plant spring flowering bulbs, tulips, daffodils, and others.
- Dig, divide, or plant peonies.
- Divide perennials, especially spring bloomers.
- Remove seed heads from perennials to prevent reseeding in the garden.
- Plant chrysanthemums for fall color.
- Dig gladiolus as the foliage begins to yellow and air-dry before storing for winter.
- Clean up garden areas to reduce insects and disease as plants die back for winter.
- Enrich the soil by adding organic matter such as compost.
- Soil test for the next growing season.
Trees and Shrubs
- Plant trees and shrubs, deciduous and evergreen.
- Prune broken and dead branches from trees.
- Avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs to ensure spring flowers.
- Handpick bagworms to reduce a problem infestation next year.
- Keep fallen leaves out of the storm drain to protect our waterways.
Houseplants
- Bring tropical/non-hardy plants in before temperatures drop into the 50’s.
- Clean and wash before moving indoors to reduce insects. They could be hiding in the potting soil.
- Fertilize before winter conditions arrive and growth slows.
- Force poinsettias into Christmas bloom by starting dark treatment.
Have questions? The Garden Hotline is staffed by trained EMG volunteers and Extension staff who will assist you with questions.
Phone: (913) 715-7050
Email: garden.help@jocogov.org