It has been a hot summer but that is
all about to end. Well, maybe it will end in a month or two. You and I may
not like it outdoors in the hot weather but most of your tropical plants
love it. These are often the plants you have growing in containers that
now need an end of summer check-up.
First see how well they have filled their containers with roots. You may
be surprised to find roots growing out the bottom of the containers. This
means it’s time to step them up to a size larger or bigger container to
make a little growth before the cooler weather arrives.
Some of these plants may also need a little trimming. They do tend to grow
out of bounds and some may be quite dense with foliage. Also remove old
flower heads and declining leaves.
Lastly, look for pests. Remember many of these plants were brought
outdoors for the summer and may be going back inside. You don’t want to
take the pests back inside with you – do you? Often a little soapy water
is all that is needed to wash the leaves clean. This removes pests and
dirt too. If you need another insecticide try one of the natural products
now available in Bayer’s Natria line at your local garden center. Just
follow the label instructions.
Now that your foliage plants are in good shape it is time to perform a few
more landscape chores as we head into fall. Check out my Gotta Do list for
a few more areas that need your attention.
Tom's Gotta-do's
for September, 2010
Vegetable & fruit care :
Clear weeds from garden sites and
till the soil prior to planting.
Improve sandy soils with compost,
peat moss or garden soils.
Start the vegetable garden with all
the warm season crops.
Harvest sweet potatoes when the
ground swells with the thick roots at the base of the plants.
Provide trellises for tomatoes and
taller growing crops.
Install soaker
hoses or micro-sprinklers to conserve water.
Use mulches to stretch the time
between waterings and keep soil off leafy crops.
Consider adding vegetables to
containers for patio and balcony gardens.
Add fresh potting soil to containers
before replanting.
Irrigate citrus trees once or twice a
week during dry weather to maintain the fruit.
Start seedlings of fall cool season
crops..
Rejuvenate herb gardens with fresh
fall plantings.
Feed vegetable gardens every three to
four weeks; container gardens weekly.
Begin citrus tree feedings towards
the end of the month.
Continue to give banana, papaya and
pineapple plantings a monthly feeding.
Give all fruit trees a final light
trimming before winter if needed.
Lawn Care
Add new sod or plugs to summer
damaged lawns.
Expect chinch bugs to continue into
fall; treat at first sign of turf decline.
Check to make sure you have the right
turf for your lawn site before planting.
Test your soil for the proper acidity
and treat as needed.
Dry weather can return this month;
wait to irrigate turf until leaf blades start to curl.
Water turf separately from ornamental
plantings.
Complete seeding of bahia turf in
early September.
Aerate hard to wet or compacted
soils.
Check local ordinances to determine
when lawn feedings can begin
Fall feedings can start in late
September where permitted.
Treat hard to regreen lawns with an
iron only product.
Begin fall weed control treatments at
the end of the month.
Lawn sections with grassy weeds are
usually best removed and the areas sodded.
Continue frequent mowings but
periodically change mowing patterns.
Landscape care
Continue to plant durable warm season
flowers in landscape beds and planters.
Reduce pest problems by adding new
soil to container gardens.
Till flower beds and add organic
matter to sandy soils.
Consider using more long-lived
perennials to reduce landscape costs.
Chrysanthemums are attractive fall
flowers but they only last a few weeks in the heat.
Begin giving shrubs a final grooming
of the growing season.
Give poinsettias a final pruning in
early September; continue feedings.
Add water conserving micro-sprinklers
to shrub and tree plantings.
Renew mulch layers with top-dressings
as needed.
Prune declining fronds and flower
stems from palms but leave the green.
Divide perennials and replant in the
garden.
Add new trees and shrubs.
Compete palm and sago plantings.
Feed palms lightly through October or
use a slow release fertilizer 3 to 4 times a year.
Begin late September shrub and
perennial feedings for fall .
Hand pull or use chemical weed
controls among plantings following label instructions.
Feed hanging baskets and orchids
every other week.
Remove declining leaves and flowers
from water lilies; give a monthly feeding.
Install gutters to move water away
from the home and flower beds.
Foliage & house plant care
Give holiday cactus a final light
feeding and reduce waterings.
Decide which plants to bring indoors
for the cooler months.
Perform final pruning of foliage
plants set outdoors for the summer.
Transplant foliage plants needing new
containers to prepare for cooler fall weather.
Feed foliage plants monthly or use a
slow release fertilizer according to the label.
Remove dust and pests with soapy
water.
Make cuttings to increase the
collection.
Replace declining plants for fall.
September, 2010
Plantings
Vegetables: Early plantings include lima bean, snap bean, corn,
cucumber, eggplant,
pepper, southern pea, rhubarb, squash, and tomato; End of the
month crops include broccoli,
cabbage, celery, collard, endive, lettuce, mustard, onion, radish,
strawberry and turnip
