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September Gardening Tips

Plant

Fall is the best time for establishing California Natives. Look for Pacific Coast iris, California lilac, manzanita, western redbud and Matilija poppy.
Plant winter-flowering sweet peas along costal areas, soaking overnight before sowing. Look for the variety Winter Elegance if you want blossoms for the December holidays.
Now is a good time to plant shade trees.
Select fall bulbs for spring color. Choose from freesia, ranunculus, daffodil and narcissus. Remember that tulips, hyacinths and croscus should be refrigerated six to eight weeks prior to planting in warm winter areas. Do not place in the freezer.
For fall and holiday color, plant calendula, pansies, Iceland poppy, primrose and snapdragon. Wait until October to plant in hot, dry inland areas.
Plant perennials such as Delphinium, Foxglove, Hollyhock now for spring bloom.
Garden centers will have a good selection of chrysanthemums and herbs this month.
This is the last chance to plant warm-season grasses such as Bermuda and St. Augustine.

Feed & Fertilize

Fertilize roses and water deeply to encourage a fall bloom.
Most mulches decompose rapidly in the hot summer weather so they should be replenished.
Fertilize citrus and avocado with organic foods. The organic nutrients will not promote too much soft growth prior to the cool weather.

Prune/Trim/Clean

Pull up and compost spent annuals but continue to pinch back begonias, geraniums and impatiens.
Prune dead, weak or diseased branches from trees and shrubs.
Roses pruned now will come back with beautiful blooms toward the end of October.

Miscellaneous

Repair and keep bird feeders filled so birds will continue to visit during less abundant food months.
Water morning and evening to minimize evaporation during hot, dry Santa Ana winds.
Withhold water from crape myrtles in the fall and they will reward you with red and orange foliage.
Azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons are setting buds now so be sure they get enough water along with their last application of fertilizer.
Reduce the amount of water to cacti and succulents to prepare them for their winter rest.