With cooler weather this month, the garden takes on a lively look. Annuals are blooming hysterically, lawns are a glistening green, and chrysanthemums, the flower of the season, have burst into glorious reds, goldens, purples, oranges, and whites.
As the garden at the end of the day becomes rejuvenated by the cool of the evening, so the fall of the year does the same for the growing season.
Much To Do
For many, September is a favorite month. Those who garden always enjoy it because there are certain rewards that autumn brings. The month gives us a new incentive to dig and plant and even to plan.
In the garden one is always planning, whether it concerns design or deciding locations for the many Dutch flowering bulbs we will be planting. The trouble is that there is not enough space for all that we would like and often not enough energy and time to do all we would like.
But some new bulbs. Among these are daffodils, which look best in clumps or drifts if they can be naturalized where they will not be disturbed. With daffodils, early planting is best to allow enough time for full root development.
Bulbs that are planted deeply, to eight or 10 inches, will not multiply rapidly to require dividing as often as those placed closer to the surface. When planting, use bonemeal in the soil, a fertilizer that benefits all kinds of bulbs for its high phosphorus content and non-caustic effects.
Try some of the newer varieties or at least some that are new to you. They will give you twice the lift of the old-timers.
The Little Bulbs
This month, too, is the time to buy and begin to plant some of the so-called species of miniature bulbs, including crocus, glory-of-the-snow, snowdrops, snowflakes, scillas, and the not-too-common species tulips and daffodils. These represent the small wildings, as they are found growing in their native habitats around the Mediterranean world.
They have many varieties as well which are usually larger, flowered and different in color. Anyhow, they are small, dainty and delicate, and utterly delightful for their exquisite forms.
September is also the start of fall clean-up time. Pull out annuals that have finished flowering, though others, such as calendulas, stock, and Heavenly Blue morning glories are more profuse in their flowering.
You will notice that the morning glories will stay open all day in cool weather, just as they do on cloudy days earlier in the summer. Sometimes you find the same blooms still open on the following morning, while new hods do not open until noon when the day warms up.
Response To Light
This matter of the response of flowers to temperature and light is an interesting one, and little mention is made to the flowers of waterlines, which open with the sun, close when the sun leaves them, yet remain open all day when the weather is cloudy.
These flowers are sensitive to the change in light intensity. Yet if the light is uniform, without sun and shadow, they keep open all day long.
Bring In Houseplants
It is always a good policy to bring houseplants indoors early, not only to escape an early frost but to give them a chance to adjust themselves to their new quarters before central heating is turned on. Moving day for house plants involves many tasks, such as washing pots, pinching, spraying when needed, repotting in some cases, and even feeding.
But to do it carefully will pay good dividends. Remember that they will pass many long months indoors so giving them the right soil needs and fertilizer is very important.
To make new plants, you can take cuttings and root them in water or sand and peat moss. From plants growing in the garden take pieces of favorite coleus, wax begonias, tradescantia, patient lacy, and geraniums.
Small annual seedlings, that came up voluntarily during the summer, will make charming house plants in sunny windows where it does get too hot. This includes dwarf marigolds, sweet alyssum, verbenas, portulaca, small petunias, annual phlox, and lobelia.
Enjoy Chrysanthemums
The full beauty of chrysanthemums still lies ahead so give them some special attention now. First of all, you can lift plants even when in bloom and move them to places in the garden where they can be enjoyed more fully. They do not mind this, because they lift easily, with soil clinging to their shallow root systems.
Be certain, however, to keep them well watered and then mulch them in the fall, because of all perennials, they winterkill the easiest, This is because their roots are close to the surface. Clumps of hardy asters can also be lifted carefully to help make more attractive sitting areas close to the house.
Start a New Lawn
Roses will continue to bloom for several weeks, so continue with the spraying. All kinds of needle evergreens may be planted and many kinds of shrubs and trees. Fertilize the lawn for the last time and sow seed in bare spots. Or start a new lawn, the best time of the year for this because of the cool, moist weather and reduced competition from weeds.
Remove stakes no longer needed, but stake other plants, just coming into flowers, such as chrysanths and fall asters. Trim back extra long growth on shrubs and vines such as bittersweet and wisteria.
For bloom in cool greenhouses or cool plant rooms plant bulbs of oxalis, freesias, ranunculus, and anemones. Plant a tree peony, pot up bulbs of calla lilies, divide overcrowded lilies of the valley, get madonna lily bulbs into the ground immediately and gather gourds before a hard frost strikes them.
Enjoy your garden fully this season. The days of autumn are glorious, filled with many wonderful things in the world of nature.
Dahlias are in their prime at this time but do not be in a hurry to lift them until the frost has thoroughly blackened their foliage. Then they can be lifted, dried a few hours out of doors, cleaned, and stored away for the winter in dry sand, peat moss, or garden soil.
Be certain they are not put away moist or wet and that the packing medium is likewise not moist. If the soil is moist, tubers may easily rot.
Divide Perennials
Among the perennials that can be lifted and divided are bearded iris, bleeding heart, Oriental poppies, day-lilies, and peonies. In fact, for peonies, this is the best time, because it allows them time to get well established and thus be able to flower well next season.
Remember to plant the roots with the red eyes just an inch or two below the surface of the soil. Plant them too deep and they may not flower for years.
Peonies require soil enriched with organic matter, old manure if available or dehydrated manure if not, along with bonemeal. Prepare the soil carefully and they will flower for years.
44659 by Na