September is a game changer . Do n’t conceive the propaganda ; school might be back in academic session , but summer is n’t over yet . In fact , it ’s better than ever . The humidity abates in September , the sky lifts , and morning and afternoon luminousness becomes golden . Conditions are ideal for enjoy the garden ’s show .
Garden in harmony with wildlife this free fall . pollinator , insect , spider , and dame are specially active now , tank up for winter and grow their next generations . Observe and get to have intercourse your garden ’s populationby name . Take pictures , research identification and life bicycle , and commit to providing a safe seaport for wildlife by refusing to employ pesticides and other toxic chemical substance and by turning off the leaf cetacean mammal . Keep the hummingbird bird feeder sate for traveller from the N . Learn more about gardening for the benefit of birds and pollinatorshereandhere .
jump harness your carve up - and - transplant list . Fall is the best time to divide leaping and early summertime blunder such as whiskery , Siberian , and Japanese iris ( Irisspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) . Irises want divide every three to four years as lump expatiate and Old rootstock die off . Gently rustle bewhiskered iris bunch and inspect rhizomes for signs of rot , breakage , and borer equipment casualty . pare foliage back to about 4 inches , and replant whole and healthy steward , barely traverse the rhizomes . Siberian and Japanese iris clumps may be pried into halves or quarters using two jab forks back to back . Trim foliage to 4 to 6 inches . Learn more about dividing both bearded and beardless iriseshere .
Plant new additions . If your garden still has gaps after separate and transplant , shop local glasshouse ’ sales on unsold stock . It ’s not too late to add annuals and tender perennials that will extend your garden ’s show right up until frost . tolerate for impulse shopping . You ’ll learn something unexampled with each attainment . If plants are corporation bound , gently loosen nose roots , trim top growing , deadhead , and water in well . They will take off speedily when released from confinement .
Start bring your houseplantsback deep down . After being outside all summer , they ’ll want metre to acclimatise to the less humid weather indoors before you close down all the windows and turn on the heating plant . Check container and leaf for thumb insects , and gently relocate them back into the garden . Repot plant life that have overgrown their confines , and trim old foliation . Even if you locate your plants in the brightest windows , light levels will be much low than outdoors , and growth will slow for the wintertime , so hold off on fertilizing from now until late February or March .
Keep an eye on the prognosis . Don’t rent a random cold night spoil the show . depend on your geographical zone and average first frost date , you could be treated to weeks of warm atmospheric condition between temperature drop . Whenever the forecast looks chancy , cover frost - supply ship plant with onetime bedsheets or Reemay . Remove covers as the sun climb the next morning .
Be certain to tour the garden on those snappy orchard apple tree day with an centre out for activity and a notebook for observation and mind . Make the most of the unspoilt last weeks of summer .
— Kristin Green is the generator ofPlantiful : set about Small , Grow Big With 150 Plants That Spread , Self - Sow , and Overwinter . She gardens in Bristol , Rhode Island .
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A bumblebee is working this ‘Robustissima’ Japanese anemone (Anemone tomentosa‘Robustissima’, Zones 4–8).Photo: Kristin Green
I generally try to avoid close encounters with spiders. But yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) is a gorgeous and gentle (unless you’re prey) giant who weaves a distinctive zipper into her web, making it easier for us (and birds) to spot her.Photo: Kristin Green
Cut off diseased sections of rhizomes, and replant slightly below the soil.Photo: Jason Jorgensen
I’m shopping the late-season displays at Avant Gardens in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts.Photo: Kristin Green
I’m tidying this ‘Tiger’ fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata‘Tiger’, Zones 9–11) before bringing it back inside by removing old leaves and spider webs.Photo: Kristin Green
Tender plants such as warm-season veggies, annuals, and tropicals may need protection from cold spells. These peppers are covered with a frost cloth for the night.Photo: Michelle Provaznik
