Gardening Jobs for September

Welcome to the ‘ber’ months! September is that transition time between the last warm days of Summer and the first cool Fall days. There is a lot to do out in the garden as September is the time when I start the process of putting it to bed. It is also a time when my focus turns toward harvesting and preserving. We have so much still coming out of the garden this time of year, and I really want to preserve the peak of Summer flavors for when we are in the depths of cold Winter! Here are some gardening jobs for you in September!

Plant out Spring bulbs

Now is the time to get your Spring bulbs planted. You would ideally do this 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes. The warm soil promotes root growth, so the bulbs are able to establish themselves before they go dormant for Winter. Be sure to protect them, as little critters, such as squirrels, like to dig them up!

Begin cleaning out your garden beds

Plants are starting to turn, and it’s time to start cleaning out your beds and either planting some Fall seeds or mulching them to get them ready for Winter. I also like to think about what fruits need ripening, so I start cutting back my plants that still have unripe fruit so they can start putting all their energy into ripening instead of growing new branches and leaves. Plants like squash and tomatoes especially benefit from a nice trim this time of year.

Test your soil pH and apply lime

September is the time to start testing your soil pH. Soil pH measures the concentration of hydrogen ions within a solution. The soil pH is measured on a scale of 1 to 10. The ideal soil pH range is between 6.5 and 7.0. You can purchase soil pH tests online. Or, if you really want to get geeky, Google soil pH testing for your area, and you can actually send in samples to a laboratory for testing. Agricultural domomitic lime is an inexpensive amendment. Lime breaks down slowly, so a Fall application is ideal to give the Lime months to break down in time for Spring planting!

Early in the month: Get out your Fall crops

The beginning of September is the time to direct sow Fall and Winter crops like radish, lettuce, spinach, and chard. Be sure to also transplant any Fall sprouts that you started indoors in July or August!

Collect seeds for the next gardening season

With all the plants starting to turn, now is the perfect time to think about collecting, drying, and storing seeds for next year’s garden. I always choose the seeds on the plants that seemed to thrive. I mostly save flower seeds like cosmos and zinnias, but if I have a particularly good squash or pumpkin, I will save those seeds as well. Be sure to dry the seeds before storing them away unless you want to be disappointed with moldy seeds when it comes time to start them in late Winter/early Spring.

Reflect on your Summer garden

I love to sit down and write notes in my garden journal this time of year. It’s a great time to note weather patterns and what crops did well and what crops didn’t. I also like to write down what conditions each crop is growing in, so I can try and troubleshoot if things didn’t do as well as I had hoped.

Clean patio furniture and store it away for Fall and Winter

We still have great weather this month, so it’s the perfect time to sweep the patio and clean the furniture and let them dry in the sun before storing them away until next year. Put away any cushions or outdoor rugs as well.

Clean out your shed and/or greenhouse

I also like to organize our shed before I put all the tools and plant supports away for the season. It helps future Sam to be able to find things easily when I am ready to get them out in late Winter!

Gardening Jobs for September