Dear garden friends, yes it is sad we have crossed into the month of September in Minnesota. We have plenty of warm sunny days ahead, but it is time to begin to our fall garden chores.
Our growing season came with an early spring coupled with abundant rain throughout the entire summer months. I spent a great deal of time warding off both pesky insects as well as fungus that hit my perennials and shrubs. All in all, my gardens grew strong and healthy. The flower containers were full of glorious color as this year, I was committed to fertilizing and pruning every day.
We live in primarily Zones 3 & 4. Our spring/summer seasons are shorter than other zones in the country. Now is an excellent time to take a soil test so you can plan your fertilization program for the coming year.
September is a good time to take a walk through your gardens, making notes on its strengths, weakness and next year's opportunities. I take fall gardening very seriously as it can set the stage for success for the next cycle of life.
In your flower garden:
ADD perennials to your garden beds. The days are milder with cooler nights. This sets the stage to get the roots firmly settled in the ground before the first frost.
CUT OFF dry flower heads that lend themselves to self-seeding such as coneflower (Echinacea) if you do not wish them to self-sow in your garden bed.
DO transplant peonies after the tops are killed off by the first frost. Do not bury more than 2 inches beneath the soil surface.
DO transplant Iris so roots can prepare for winter.
DIVIDE daylilies and hostas – it is fun to swap your varieties with other garden buddies who have a variety you want. It is free and you have added color and dimension to your garden!
ADD fall annuals to your tired garden bed to add color during the cooler months ahead. Mums are always a favorite, coupling with other annuals to add interest such as zinnias, violets and black-eyed susans.
CONTINUE weeding in order to prevent the amount of weeds you will have to pull next year.
Shrubs and trees
ADD to your existing shrub design or replace older shrubs that have grown tired and weary. (Always remember to call the local utility-locating service before you dig).
REMOVE leaves from diseased shrubs. This will prevent them from spreading next season.
CONTINUE to water whenever the top 4-6 inches are dry. Keep the root system healthy with water in order to keep them stronger through the winter.
DO NOT fertilize shrubs until next spring. Now is not the time to promote new growth on shrubs that will be resting for the winter.
Fall is my favorite season here in Minnesota. This year promises to be an early show of color due to our warm and early spring. Get out and enjoy our beautiful show of color!
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