Things to Do – September 2017

Greg Grant

1. Prepare beds for fall planting by adding organic compost.
2. Dig and divide oxblood and spider lily bulbs while in bloom or when they just finish.
3. Mulch about 3 inches to prevent weeds and protect against winter damage.
4. Plant cool-season leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, kale, collards, dill, cilantro and parsley
5. Trim hedges and shrubs last time before winter.
6. Plant bluebonnets and other wildflowers.  Barely cover the seeds and firm or tamp down the soil.
7. Stop shearing fall blooming perennials such as garden mums, cigar plant, and Mexican bush sage to allow for fall blooms.
8. Prune roses (Labor Day!) for nice fall bloom.  Do not fertilize.  Most antique roses and shrub roses only neat a light shearing to shape them.
9. Winterize lawn.  Use 3:1:2 ratio such as 15-5-10, 16-6-12, etc.  Water in well.
10. Stop fertilizing warm season perennials and tropicals.
11. Watch for aphids, lace bugs, mites, white flies, and thrips.  Control with        insecticidal soap or other labeled insecticide.
12. Apply BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) to cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, and kale to protect from cabbage loopers.
13. Apply pre-emergent herbicide to established lawns with annual infestations to prevent cool season weeds such has henbit, chickweed, and lawn burweed.
14.  Visit “Greg Grant Gardens” on Facebook.