Don't Put the Garden to Bed Yet: What to Do in September

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September arrives and suddenly it feels like we're supposed to start shutting everything down.

The patio furniture gets covered, the garden tools start disappearing and we begin preparing ourselves for the inevitable morning when Calgary decides it's winter without consulting any of us.

But I'm not quite ready to give up on the garden yet.

September can actually be one of the nicest months outside. The days are still warm, the evenings are cooler, and many plants are putting on one last show before the season ends. Instead of putting the garden to bed, I think of September as the month to help it transition.

Clean Up, But Not Too Much

It's tempting to start cutting everything back as soon as plants begin looking a little tired, but not everything needs to disappear.

Remove dead annuals and anything diseased or damaged, but consider leaving some perennials and ornamental grasses standing. They can add texture to the garden through fall and winter, and some provide food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects.

This is also a good time to keep up with weeding. Future-you will appreciate having fewer weeds waiting when the snow melts.

Keep Watering

Cooler temperatures can make it easy to forget about watering, especially once the garden isn't demanding quite as much attention.

But trees, shrubs and perennials still need moisture as they prepare for winter. If September is dry, continue watering, particularly newer plants that are still establishing their roots.

A good drink heading into colder weather can make a big difference.

Don't Get Too Excited With the Pruning Shears

Not everything should be heavily pruned in the fall.

Some shrubs set next year's flowers on older growth, and cutting them back now can mean accidentally removing next year's blooms. Hydrangeas in particular can have very different pruning requirements depending on the variety.

When in doubt, leave it until spring or check what your particular plant prefers before cutting.

Plant Something for Spring

One of my favourite things about fall gardening is that you're quietly preparing a surprise for yourself.

September and early fall are a great time to start thinking about spring bulbs. Tulips, daffodils, alliums and other hardy bulbs go into the ground now and then disappear from your mind completely.

Until one day, after months of snow and brown grass, something green starts poking through.

Worth it every time.

Enjoy What's Still Here

Mostly, don't rush it.

Pick the last flowers. Bring a few inside. Sit outside with your coffee when the sun is shining. Let the hydrangeas change colour and the grasses move in the wind.

There will be plenty of time to clean everything up, cover the furniture and get the yard ready for winter.

September isn't quite the end of the garden.

It's just the garden changing seasons.