Mid September

A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That for Autumn Gardeners

Here are a few tidbits of information that might help you maintain your garden this season.

1. The best time for roses in Richmond is September and October. They like the cooler less humid weather. Stop fertilizing roses by early September. The roses shown below are September and October blooms respectively.

2. In the summer, deadheading roses for more blooms is great. If you don’t deadhead the flowers in the fall, your roses may grow rose hips by the holidays. You can use them in winter wreaths!

3. Check for irrigation heads that may be overshooting your lawn after you aerate and seed. You do not want plants getting watered daily with your lawn.

4. This is the best time to split and /or move perennials. It gives them time to grow roots so they are established by Spring.

Do not fertilize with 10-10-10 (anywhere). That just pushes plants to grow leaves and flowers with a fast release. Instead, put granular micronutrients or 14-14- 14 in the hole when you plant them. It encourages root growth which is what you want this time of year.

5. The best time to order planters for your annuals on-line is in the now through Christmas. There are good sales and stores still have have pots in stock. Lots of pots go on sale to make way for 2026 products. When Spring hits most of the pretty pots are regular price or sold out!

It is better to order fewer big pots (10″-16″) than to get a lot of small ones. There is also less watering with a big pot.

6. If you have ceramic and or terra cotta pots outdoors, you need to empty them of dirt and bring them inside to your shed or basement for the winter. Soilin a pot expands and freezes when the pot is left out in the cold rain and snow. With these weather conditions the container has a terrific possibility of cracking. After you empty the garden container, wrap it in plastic. Cover the top of pot with plastic to catch the rain before it gets into the pot. It is a lot of work. That’s why I buy granite or cement pots. I also get those lightweight faux pots and paint them to look like granite.

7. Aerate and seed lawns by last week of September. It takes 7-10 days for the seed to germinate in warmer temperatures. In October, falling leaves can smother growing seeds. Blow your lawn very gently if leaves are heavily falling so you don’t blow off expensive young seeds. Do not rake your lawn.

8. Cut clematis to about 3” above the ground. Leave the old stems that have been climbing on a post or trellis. Next year your vine will easily climb the old vine without much training.

9. Keep hummingbird feeders filled with fresh food thru mid- November or for 2 weeks after you see the last hummer on your feeder. If you keep feeders filled longer than mid-November you may be help feed some migratory hummingbirds that pass by.

10. Cut dead stalks of iris after they bloom in spring. After the first freeze cut back foliage in the shape of your hand to the height of 4 inches. Clean away leaves that die as winter goes on.

11. If you have a tree that has lost its leaves or is losing leaves rapidly from the bottom up in late July or August, your tree may have a fungus. Grab a few leaves and stems, double bag them, and drop them off at the Chesterfield Extensive Service. They will send you an email detailing what your tree has and how to treat it.

Christie lives in Manakin Sabot , Virginia where she manages a 3 acre garden. Her blogs are written from her 35 years as a personal and professional gardener.