September is the month that schools are back in session and moms breathe a sigh of relief that another summer is past.
It’s also the month when the three Rs – reading, writing and ’rithmetic – come to mind, but did you know that there are three Rs of gardening as well?
The three R’s of gardening? Yes. And in September, they are “replace, replant and replenish.”
If your garden is looking a little war-weary from our hot summer, then take heart. The first R of September is “replace.” It’s a great time to take a look around the yard. Maybe there are some annuals that didn’t quite make it. Perhaps there are some that made it, but then dried out because of lack of water or care. Maybe there are some things you planted that didn’t turn out quite as you had hoped. Replace!
Local garden centers should have their late-summer or fall crops available, and there are several choices that are suitable for planting this time of year. Pansies are a great choice for the high country and a good choice for fall planting in our area. Although often thought of as a spring flower, fall pansies are fabulous. They’ll bloom throughout the fall, then winter over and return in the spring to be even more bountiful and beautiful than they were in the spring. Cool lovers, the snow will actually serve as an insulator if we have big storms. They’ll provide the first blooms of color come spring without having to be out planting then. Versatile, cheerful and lovely, consider pansies for replacements for your summer garden at this time of year.
Mums are another replace item. Closely associated with fall, mums are just beginning to bloom now, put on a spectacular show over the next few months, and work well to replace tired annuals in a porch pot or garden bed. Fall mums are big, bright, bold and beautiful and filled with fall color. A cheerful pot of mums on a porch or planted in a garden adds curb appeal and can completely change the focus of your home.
There are other annuals still available like dianthus and geraniums too. Even if it is just for a short period of time, replacing tired, dead or worn-out annuals will give a fresh look to a weary garden.
“Replant” is the second R. Replant in spots where your annuals are exhausted or things that didn’t quite make it on the first try. Perhaps you planted a bed full of perennials, but one or two out of the grouping didn’t survive. There is still a great selection of perennials, trees and shrubs available at most nurseries. The adage “fall is for planting” really is true for the following reason: When you plant now, the ground is warm from the summer sun, and perennials, trees or shrubs that tend to be picky when planted into cold spring soil have a greater chance of survival when planted in late season. It’s also a good time to add summer-blooming or fall-blooming perennials to your garden such as Autumn Joy Sedum or Autumn Fire Sedum, which are just coming into bloom and can be enjoyed now and over the next few months until we have a hard freeze.
Grass seed is another replant item. If you planted a new lawn this spring or have spots or fairy rings left in the old lawn, now is the time to fill in with grass seed. By planting it now, it will have time to grow and get established before going dormant for the winter.
The third R is “replenish.” If you are a vegetable gardener, now is the time to tear out the old vegetables like cucumber vines, squash vines and string beans that are finished for the season. The good news is that the vegetable garden can be replenished with a crop of fall veggies that you can harvest before frost and will continue to supply your kitchen and table. Some of the best for this area during this season are lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, radishes, carrots and more, depending on your conditions and where you live. All these love cooler growing conditions, and the ground crops will do especially well since the ground is warm. If you have a high tunnel or are willing to cover plants as the nights begin to frost, you really can have quite a good crop of fall veggies fairly far into the season. Root crops like onions, carrots, beets and radishes will do very well and can be left in the ground then pulled when you want to use them. Take some time to replenish those crops that you are especially fond of for one more taste of summer.
September is a wonderful time to replace, replant and replenish your yard and garden. If you struggle with the heat, the cooler days make it delightful to work outdoors as well. Once your yard is fresh and new-looking again, take some time to enjoy the fourth R of gardening and “relax!”
Gail Vanik can be reached at Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery at 565-8274 or by email at fourseasons@animas.net, on Facebook at Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery, or on the web at www.fourseasonsgreenhouse.com.