Gardening Tips by John Begeman: September Gardening Calendar

	Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information *Gardening Tips by John Begeman*


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Index : September Gardening Calendar

1. Help plants recover

2. Plant flowering bulbs

3. Divide iris clumps

4. Prepare the fall garden

5. Fertilize roses

6. Plant winter herbs

7. Discard split fruit on oranges and tangerines

1. Help plants recover - Top

Help plants recover from summer heat by pruning off dead and dried branches. Fertilize lightly with a high nitrogen fertilizer, such as ammonium sulfate (21-0-0), to encourage new growth. After fertilizing water thoroughly. For soils that shed water, add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent in a gallon of water and slowly soak the area. The detergent will allow the water to be absorbed into the soil. Keep plants well watered until they recover with the cooler temperatures of Autumn. - Updated: June 19, 2002

2. Plant flowering bulbs - Top

Plant flowering bulbs such as amaryllis, narcissus, gladiolus, iris, freesia, and ranunculus. Choose a location with plenty of morning and mid-day sun, but is shaded in the afternoon. Prepare a bed for planting by mixing in plenty of desert or garden compost, composted manure or peat moss. At the same time mix in 2 lbs. of 6-6-6 or similar analysis fertilizer per 100 square feet of bulb bed area. Plant bulbs at the depth and spacing indicated at the time of purchase. After planting firm soil around the bulbs and water the planting bed thoroughly. Repeat waterings just enough to keep the soil moist around the bulbs, but not wet! Cover the bulb bed with a layer of organic mulch such as ground wood much, compost or peat moss. This will help hold in moisture and insulate the soil from heat and cold. - Updated: June 19, 2002

3. Divide iris clumps - Top

Divide iris clumps by digging them up and cutting rhizomes into pieces with 3 fans of leaves. Discard any rhizomes that show signs of insect damage or rot. Cut the fan shaped leaves back to 6 inches and clean away any dead leaves. Plant rhizomes 12 to 15 inches apart and just deep enough so that they are covered with soil. - Updated: June 19, 2002

4. Prepare the fall garden - Top

Prepare the fall garden by tilling organic matter such as compost, aged manure, or peat moss into the soil. Also mix in a starter fertilizer such as ammonium phosphate or bonemeal. Start seeds of broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, brussel sprouts, and collards in pots and trays for planting out into the garden later this month. Seeds of carrots, radishes, spinach, leaf lettuce, turnips, and green onions can be sown directly in the garden starting the middle of this month. Follow spacing and planting depth recommendations listed on the seed packets. - Updated: June 19, 2002

5. Fertilize roses - Top

Fertilize roses in the later half on September. Apply rose fertilizer according to label directions or ammonium phosphate at the rate of one-half cup per bush. Scratch the fertilizer into the top surface of the soil and water in. Remove sun-burned leaves, and prune rose canes back a foot or so to stimulate new growth and fall flowering. - Updated: June 19, 2002

6. Plant winter herbs - Top

Plant winter herbs such as cilantro, chives, parsley, sage, thyme and oregano. Herbs benefit greatly from a rich, organic soil. Raised beds and containers are ideal for growing herbs as they prefer quality potting soils with good drainage and lots of organic matter. Winter herbs prefer plenty of sunshine and monthly feedings with a complete water soluble plant food. - Updated: June 19, 2002

7. Discard split fruit on oranges and tangerines - Top

Discard split fruit on orange and tangerine trees. Splitting and cracking occurs when sun damaged rinds cannot expand as the fruit enlarges. These damaged fruits should be discarded as they will attract fruit flies and other damaging insects.
- Updated: June 19, 2002

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: 1. Help plants recover; 2. Plant flowering bulbs; 3. Divide iris clumps; 4. Prepare the fall garden; 5. Fertilize roses; 6. Plant winter herbs; 7. Discard split fruit on oranges and tangerines

1. Help plants recover - Top: Help plants recover from summer heat by pruning off dead and dried branches. Fertilize lightly with a high nitrogen fertilizer, such as ammonium sulfate (21-0-0), to encourage new growth. After fertilizing water thoroughly. For soils that shed water, add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent in a gallon of water and slowly soak the area. The detergent will allow the water to be absorbed into the soil. Keep plants well watered until they recover with the cooler temperatures of Autumn. - Updated: June 19, 2002

2. Plant flowering bulbs - Top: Plant flowering bulbs such as amaryllis, narcissus, gladiolus, iris, freesia, and ranunculus. Choose a location with plenty of morning and mid-day sun, but is shaded in the afternoon. Prepare a bed for planting by mixing in plenty of desert or garden compost, composted manure or peat moss. At the same time mix in 2 lbs. of 6-6-6 or similar analysis fertilizer per 100 square feet of bulb bed area. Plant bulbs at the depth and spacing indicated at the time of purchase. After planting firm soil around the bulbs and water the planting bed thoroughly. Repeat waterings just enough to keep the soil moist around the bulbs, but not wet! Cover the bulb bed with a layer of organic mulch such as ground wood much, compost or peat moss. This will help hold in moisture and insulate the soil from heat and cold. - Updated: June 19, 2002

3. Divide iris clumps - Top: Divide iris clumps by digging them up and cutting rhizomes into pieces with 3 fans of leaves. Discard any rhizomes that show signs of insect damage or rot. Cut the fan shaped leaves back to 6 inches and clean away any dead leaves. Plant rhizomes 12 to 15 inches apart and just deep enough so that they are covered with soil. - Updated: June 19, 2002

4. Prepare the fall garden - Top: Prepare the fall garden by tilling organic matter such as compost, aged manure, or peat moss into the soil. Also mix in a starter fertilizer such as ammonium phosphate or bonemeal. Start seeds of broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, brussel sprouts, and collards in pots and trays for planting out into the garden later this month. Seeds of carrots, radishes, spinach, leaf lettuce, turnips, and green onions can be sown directly in the garden starting the middle of this month. Follow spacing and planting depth recommendations listed on the seed packets. - Updated: June 19, 2002

5. Fertilize roses - Top: Fertilize roses in the later half on September. Apply rose fertilizer according to label directions or ammonium phosphate at the rate of one-half cup per bush. Scratch the fertilizer into the top surface of the soil and water in. Remove sun-burned leaves, and prune rose canes back a foot or so to stimulate new growth and fall flowering. - Updated: June 19, 2002

6. Plant winter herbs - Top: Plant winter herbs such as cilantro, chives, parsley, sage, thyme and oregano. Herbs benefit greatly from a rich, organic soil. Raised beds and containers are ideal for growing herbs as they prefer quality potting soils with good drainage and lots of organic matter. Winter herbs prefer plenty of sunshine and monthly feedings with a complete water soluble plant food. - Updated: June 19, 2002

7. Discard split fruit on oranges and tangerines - Top: Discard split fruit on orange and tangerine trees. Splitting and cracking occurs when sun damaged rinds cannot expand as the fruit enlarges. These damaged fruits should be discarded as they will attract fruit flies and other damaging insects.
- Updated: June 19, 2002

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