September 2015 Tips

Dear Gardening Friends, It’s hard to believe September is here. What happened to August?! The cooler and hopefully more consistent rain in the fall is ideal for transplanting and dividing perennials. It’s also ideal for planting trees and shrubs and everyone’s favorite chore… weeding. The following are some tips for September:   Your perennial needs dividing if: It has outgrown its space The bloom has diminished The center of the clump is dying back so the clump looks like a doughnut   I’m going to wait till this hot and predicted dry week is over before doing much dividing and moving. Moving a plant when it’s hot and dry takes a lot of attention and watering.   Trees and shrubs, as well as perennials should be planted when they will have at least 4 week for their roots to settle in.   This is a good time cut back stems on plants that are past their prime. If it looks more brown than green you can cut it back.   It’s not necessary to cut back all the perennials. Leaving plants with seed heads intact is good food for winter birds. The crowns and leaves of the plants also serve as a protective cover for the plants against temperature changes during the winter.   Mid-September is the ideal time to bring in annuals for the winter or take cuttings. This should be done BEFORE the nights get cooler and your furnace goes on. It’s also best to take cuttings or bring plants in when they are in their prime. They will not do as well after they start diminishing.   Most nurseries are having sales. It’s a great time to find some bargains. However look the plants over carefully including the roots. An unhealthy or diseased plant is no bargain.   CHECK OUT THE INFORMATION ABOUT MY FALL PLANT SALE at the end of the tips. Fresh dug from my garden to yours is a great way to get a healthy plant.   Weeding is very important during the fall as many weeds are setting their seeds. If you get them out now you will have far fewer to deal with next year.   Good garden clean-up is essential to help prevent disease next season. Carefully remove and discard any leaves & stems of infected plants and remove. Do NOT compost any diseased plant material.   Contrary to popular belief, fall is not the best time for pruning trees, shrubs and roses. Late winter and early spring are best. The exception being spring blooming shrubs like lilac and forsythia. Those should be pruned after they bloom next spring. Dead branches can be removed at any time.   Upcoming Garden Events:   Lessons from Nature Fall Perennial Sale I have lots of plants that can’t wait until spring to be divided or moved. The sale will be a dig it fresh from my garden event over the span of 2 weeks from Sept. 5 - 19. Plants will be put in bags or containers that you bring rather than potted up. Since I don’t have to pot them up and care for them, the cost will be very reasonable. A full list of available plants is at the end of the newsletter. The sale will be by appointment only. Call me at 652-2432 to make an appointment. FIRST COME FIRST SERVED!   The Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Erie Co. will once again offer a series of 3 gardening classes this fall: 7 – 8:30 PM at the Cooperative Extension 9/30 – HOW TO DEAL WITH NUISANCE WILDLIFE - Connie Adams, Senior Wildlife Biologist for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, will present.  Her program will include methods for dealing with a wide variety of wildlife in rural, suburban and urban settings 10/7 - EVERYTHING HYDRANGEAS - Carol Ann Harlos, Master Gardener will cover types of hydrangeas, planting, growing, propagating, purchasing, and weeding Hydrangeas. 10/14 - RIGHT PLANT – RIGHT PLACE - Natalie Twining, Master Gardener, will discuss how to assess what will grow well in your garden and improve your garden success covering sun, water and soil. The cost is $15 per class or all 3 for $40. To register contact CCE, Erie Co. 652-5400, ext. 177 or send your check to Master Gardeners, CCE Erie Co., 21 S. Grove St., E Aurora, NY 14052. Lockwood’s Fall Garden Fair Saturday and Sunday, September 12 and 13. Check their website for updates about speakers and workshops. As usual, there will be many vendors, food and plant specials that weekend.  Gathering of Gardeners – Rochester NY Saturday Sept 12th, four good presentations and a great parking lot sale. Check their website for details and registration. Plants available: Ground cover: I have lots of pachysandra and chameleon plant that has to go. You can dig your own and save $! Also available green & gold and ginger both great native ground covers for shade and campanula – blue.   Perennials for Shade:                                                  Perennials for sun: Hosta – many varieties                                                  Filapendula Ferns- sensitive & ostrich                                              Anemone - pink Epimedium – yellow and pink                                        Sundrops Dwarf astilbe                                                                  Black-eyed-Susan Corydalis                                                                       Tansy Spring anemone                                                            Perennials part sun: Tall meadow rue                                                            Big-leaf aster Early meadow rue                                                         Monkshood Wood poppy                                                                  Butter burr White wood aster                                                          Persicaria European ginger                                                           Blue lobelia Snakeroot                                                                     Forget-me-not Golden ragwort   Happy Gardening! Lyn Chimera Lessons from Nature 170 Pine St., E. Aurora, NY 14052 716-652-2432 [email protected]           Copyright © 2014 Lessons From Nature, All rights reserved. You're receiving this message because you requested to receive Lessons from Nature newsletters. Our mailing address is: Lessons from Nature 37 N Union Rd Williamsville, NY 14221 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences