September tips:

Potted plants in hot weather

If you have potted plants outdoors, be sure to keep them well watered in hot weather, especially if they are in the full sun. You may need to water them daily, depending on the type of soil in the pot. But don’t overwater. The soil should not be soggy or have standing water on top of it. Be sure the pot is well-drained. Clay pots allow evaporation from the sides, so be sure to check them more often.

Fall fertilization

Be careful about fertilizing trees and shrubs in the fall. Generally, it’s not a good idea except under emergency conditions. If you feel you must fertilize your trees or shrubs, try to wait until the leaves have fallen before doing so. Fertilizer added while the leaves are still active promotes succulent growth which has great potential for winter damage, and thus should be avoided.

Spring garden beds

Now is a good time to think about preparing new garden beds for next spring. As you till the soil, add plenty of organic matter such as leaves, and leave the surface a little rough so water will penetrate. You should also get a soil test to see if you need to add lime. Then plant a hardy cover crop, which will grow this fall and early next spring. When you are finally ready to plant next year, till the cover crop in and you’re ready to go!

Cool season grasses

The best time of the year for planting cool season grasses, such as fescue, is in the fall. This allows time for the grass to become established before winter sets in, and then additional time to continue growing next spring before the heat of summer arrives. If you need a good grass for shady areas, you might consider creeping red fescue. Plant it in later September and you’ll be rewarded with a good lawn under your trees next year.

October tips:

Fall vegetable watering

Fall can be a good time for growing vegetables, but don’t forget the water. Although your plants may not need as much water as they did in the heat of summer, they will still need adequate water to mature properly. Since fall in our area is sometimes dry, you will need to remember to check your garden often and water when needed.

Cold weather hardening

As we approach winter your trees and shrubs will begin to harden off to withstand the cold weather ahead. If you have mulch around them, it will help the hardening off process to remove the mulch for the fall. This will encourage the plant to go into dormancy. When the plants finally do go dormant, replace the mulch for protection through the rest of the winter

Leaves as mulch

When the leaves begin to fall from your trees don’t overlook ways to use them in your garden. Instead of burning or discarding them, use them in a compost pile to provide nutrients for next year’s garden. Or, grind them up in a shredder to use as mulch. When shredded they won’t compact or blow around, and allow good water penetration to the soil.

Fall garden cleanup

One important fall gardening activity that is easy to forget is the fall cleanup. This is important to the health of next year’s garden because many diseases can overwinter in the roots of perennial weeds. Examples include tomato mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, bean mosaic virus, and many other diseases. By removing these weeds, roots and all, you will have a healthier garden next year.

Ripening tomatoes

If you’ve brought in tomatoes from your garden to escape those killing frosts, pick ones that have shown a bit of color, since they will ripen more easily. To aid the process, put them in a closed container with a fully ripe apple or two. The apples naturally give off ethylene gas, which helps the tomatoes to ripen more quickly.

SOURCE: University of Missouri Extension