September marks the turn toward autumn. Days shorten, nights cool, and the garden shifts from production to preparation. 100% Local
Cool-weather crops can be sown or planted now, and green onions and lettuce both grow well in the milder conditions. Strawberries planted now settle in before winter, and tender houseplants should come back inside.
In cold zones, protect late sowings and prepare for frost. In mild zones, this is prime planting weather. Check any plants brought indoors for pests before they join the others.
As nights cool, bring houseplants that spent summer outside back in, but check them carefully for pests first. Growth is slowing, so reduce feeding and let the soil dry a little more between waterings as light levels drop.
Autumn is ideal, so the cloves root before winter and grow away quickly in spring. In cold zones, plant early enough to establish before the ground freezes.
It protects bare soil from erosion, suppresses weeds and adds organic matter when dug in. It is a simple way to rest a bed over winter.
Finish planting bulbs, clear spent summer crops and mulch bare ground. Tidy beds now make spring sowing much easier and keep weeds from taking hold over winter.
General horticultural guidance for planning only. Verify locally.