Fall! I’ve been anxious for this time of the year. By the middle of September the weather will cool down enough to do the outside yard jobs.
Fall is for planting: If you plan to re-do your landscapes by adding trees, shrubs and flowers, September and October is a good time. It’s time enough for the roots to become established before hot weather.
Fall fertilizing is the most important feeding of the year. I have found that using organic plant food works better for my landscape. It is longer release, and it doesn’t need to be watered in immediately, because it doesn’t burn like chemicals. It can be put down any time of the year. It gives food frost protection and greens up better in Spring.
Now is the time to prune roses for a good October bloom. Trim out dead wood, diseased plants and crossed branches. Prune out about one third of the plant. Feed and water. You should have a full flush for October.
You do not want to prune Spring blooming roses or any shrubs and trees that bloom early. Don’t prune climbing roses, redbud trees, Mexican Buckeye, Carolina Jasmine, Forsythia, Bridal Veil, hawthorne or any plants in your landscape that bloom early. You will lose all blooms.
Don’t do heavy pruning on hedges at this time. Wait until later in early Spring. If new growth begins and there is a freeze, it could stop the new growth or kill the shrub.
Divide Iris and re-plant elsewhere or give to friends. Using Bone Meal, cottonseed meal or a regular bulb meal will give them a boost in the Spring.
Flowers that bloom in the Fall should be dug up and divided in the Spring. Tip: Before planting seed, check the seed package for the number of days till harvest. You may need to use transplants instead of seed.
If you have planted Fall vegetables, it is important to keep the soil moist during the heat.
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