September is a time of transition. The days are getting shorter and cooler, but the nights are still warm enough to enjoy your garden for a little while longer. If you’ve been neglecting it this summer, now is the time to get out there and start planting some fall flowers or vegetables. It’s never too late to give your garden a boost before winter sets in!
What to Plant in your Garden during September
Typically, September is the time of year when you’re transitioning from the summer to the fall season. As a result, we need to change what we plant in our gardens.
Zucchini, pumpkin, and squash are just a few vegetables that do well in September.
Tulips, Lilies, Hydrangeas, Daffodils, and Freesia are a few flowers that should work well because of the shorter days and cooler temperatures.
Zucchini
Zucchini is a summer squash that is best grown as a vine. They are prolific producers and will provide you with tasty, nutritious zucchini all season. The fruit of the plant are mature enough to harvest 60-70 days after planting, but they need to be harvested often in order to encourage continued production.
Pumpkin
Pumpkins are the type of squash that one thinks of when they think of Halloween and fall. When to plant depends on where you live. They need a lot of space to grow, so be sure to have enough room in your garden or yard before planting them. They can also get fairly large, so choose a variety that fits the space you have available. Pumpkins are best grown as vines because they require lots of support from other plants or trees around them. Plant pumpkins 60-70 days before the last frost date in your area for best results.
Squash
The time of year to plant squash is during the month of September. To start, you need to know what type of squash to plant. You will want to choose from pumpkin, zucchini, or winter squash. Here are some tips on how best to prepare your garden bed for planting: Remove any plants that have died from your garden. If you use mulch in your garden already, now is the perfect time to replenish it. Add about 3 inches of mulch over your soil and it will decompose while also suppressing weeds.
Tulips
Tulips are a type of flower that does well during the month of September. They're usually planted in spring, but you can plant them all year round if you live close to where they were originally grown. You'll need to plant the bulbs about 3" deep and 8-12" apart if you want to see front flowers for most of the season.
Lilies
Lilies are another type of flower that does well in September. These plants need more water than other flowers so it's best to keep them near a drier area of your garden or near your house where there is likely already a sprinkler system. The stems should be cut back by half after they bloom to encourage new blooms down the line.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are one of those garden plants that can tolerate some dryness. They like well-drained soil and will grow in a wide variety of locations. When planting a hydrangea, you should plant 4-5 bulbs 3" deep and 12-18" apart. These flowers are easily propagated with cuttings so don’t be afraid to share some!
Daffodils and Freesia
These bulbs need to be planted during the fall season as they are fairly hardy and do well when planted early. Plant them about 3" deep and 18-24" apart, depending on the size of your garden. They require cold weather to grow so it's best to wait until September to plant them if you’re going to have a short growing season or live in an area where it freezes frequently.
September is also a great time of year to make sure your yard is looking neat and tidy. Make sure to have enough weed eater line to get the best-looking edges for your lawn.
September is a transitional time of year in the garden. You’ll need to change what you plant depending on whether it will be planted for summer or fall. Zucchini, pumpkin, and squash are just some vegetables that do well during this month because they thrive with short days and cooler temperatures. Tulips, Lilies, Hydrangeas, Daffodils, and Freesia are types of flowers best grown during September as long as there's not too much frost where you live. Do you grow any of these in your garden? Let us know in the comments below.