Summer heat and drought slowed down gardening in July and August, but September is the beginning of another planting season. Gardens become more colorful, and gardeners enjoy a new burst of ambition.
Bulbs – Shipments are arriving and dealers everywhere are offering them for sale. Plant Madonna lilies, baby glads, lycoris, leucojums and calla lilies in early September. The Dutch bulbs arrive from mid-September on. So, plan to get your stock of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, anemones, ranunculus, muscari, etc. into the ground after September 15.
Dahlias are increasing in popularity in most of the South. To have really large blooms for the fall shows disbud, permitting only one large bloom per stem.
Iris – All types can be planted now: bearded, Dutch, Louisiana, Siberian, and English. Clean up established bearded iris clumps by removing dead and discolored leaves.
Plant grass seed in early September. Lawns started early make a better winter showing than those planted late this month or in October. Overplant with ryegrass wherever it is desirable. Plant fescues, bluegrass, and mixtures in the Upper South only. Keep all new plantings well watered to develop good stands by early fall.
Camellias – Guard early-flowering varieties carefully to have perfect blooms by show time in October and November. Plant new camellias as soon as the plants are available. Early and late varieties are best for outdoor planting in the Upper and Middle South. Plant all types in Florida and Gulf Coast areas. Interest is growing, too, in the greenhouse culture of camellias in the colder parts of the South. Spray with Florida Volac for scale but not when clay temperatures are over 80 degrees.
Gather camellia seeds immediately. Pick the pods and leave them in the sun for a couple of days until they crack open. Plant in jars of moist peatmoss for early germination.
Azaleas – Keep the plants well watered during dry months. Spray with malathion or diazinon to keep down lacebugs.
Apply an 0-14-14 fertilizer to broadleaved evergreens to help harden them against cold damage in winter. This is particularly useful with camellias, azaleas, gardenias, and other shrubs that are injured if their growth is soft and sappy.
Roses – Give them their last feeding early this month to prepare them for the heavy flowering season which lasts until severe frosts. Keep new growth sprayed or dusted to prevent the appearance of blackspot and mildew.
Vegetables – Plant fall and winter crops. For the Upper and Middle South: beets, carrots, kale, lettuce, spinach, rape, cabbage, collards, mustard, radishes, and turnips. Plant onion sets. Be sure to get multiplier sets early since supplies are short. In the Lower South: beans, broccoli, carrots, beets, lettuce, radishes, spinach, squash, and turnips.
Make cuttings of hibiscus, coleus, acalyphas, cassias, geraniums and other tropical plants that you would like for winter use indoors or for outdoors again next summer.
by C Hudson – 61642
