GV?Gardeners: September in the garden

In most parts of the country, September signals the beginning of autumn traditions. Thoughts are of colorful leaves for raking, pumpkin carving, the spirit of school football rivalries, pots of bright colored mums for the porch, and opening windows to the heavenly crisp nights.

In the desert, fall’s arrival is celebrated by emerging from summer’s hibernation, getting reacquainted with the neighbors, the patio, and the garden. September brings fewer 100-degree temperatures, less humidity, and an obvious shortening of daylight hours.

Monsoon season leftovers still to be dealt with are huge colorful (and hungry) grasshoppers, flying beetles in their metallic suits, large black cactus beetles slowly devouring cactus and prickly pear edges, spider webs sewing up all the pathways, and multiple sizes of busy ants carrying away the litter. The tempo picks up as the shadows of autumn grow!

There are many early fall chores to be tended in the garden. Shaggy geraniums may be cut back heavily now. This will stimulate the growth of new shoots and encourage flowers during the mild winter. Remove spent blooms on roses, and prune lightly.

To encourage fall flowering, cut out dead or damaged canes and shoots that are growing from the root stock. Cut remaining canes back by one-third. Scratch into the soil surface, a rose fertilizer and then water thoroughly.

To increase new growth on heat-stressed plants, apply a light application of water-soluable, high-nitrogen fertilizer. Granular ammonium sulfate (21-0-0), a cost-effective option, is spread around the plant, and watered in. A complete fertilizer in powder and liquid, such as Miracle-Gro or Peters Plant Food, is diluted in water and poured around the plant base. Continue watering on a regular basis, and watch your annuals and perennials recover with the lower temperatures.

If interested in trying a vegetable garden, start sowing the “cool weather” crops as soon as daytime temperatures consistently stay below 100 degrees. Plant seed of lettuce, beets, carrots, chard, kale, radishes, kohirabi, leeks, peas, and turnips. Onion sets and transplants of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chives, and brussel sprouts can also be planted when available in garden centers.

Winter herbs such as cilantro, parsley, sage, thyme and oregano can be set out now. These herbs like lots of sunshine and monthly fertilizing with a complete, water-soluble plant food.

Check citrus trees for any soil that may have washed up against the trunks during monsoon rains. Clean off soil from the trunks. Early September is the time to apply the last fertilizer of the year. Use citrus food, follow label instructions, and water in thoroughly.

Splitting and cracking of oranges and tangerine fruit may occur this month. This happens as the fruit enlarges and the rinds cannot expand enough. The damaged fruit should be discarded, as it will attract fruit flies and other insects.

When inspecting, watch for “orange dog” caterpillars, larvae of swallowtail butterflies. These caterpillars resemble bird droppings on the leaves, and can weaken young trees. Handpicking is the recommended method of disposal.

Why not try planting some spring-blooming bulbs this year? For best results, try allium, crocus, freesia, hyacinths, narcissus, or zephyranthes. Buy now while selection is best, put into a paper bag and store in the crisper section of the refrigerator (away from fruit).

Next month, when soil has cooled, plant the bulbs into the garden or a container. More specifics on bulbs that grow well in the desert in an upcoming column.

October is one of the busiest months in the garden for planting new material. Take some time now to look over what is available, do a bit of research on requirements, pick your spots in the landscape, and be ready to plant, plant, plant next month!

Mary Kidnocker is a Master Gardener who writes frequently about the subject from a local perspective. Her columns are featured each Sunday. She is currently President of The Green Valley Gardeners.