September in the Garden
VEGGIES TO PLANT
- Bush Beans
- Pole Beans
- Lima Beans
- Cucumbers
- Artichoke
- Asparagus
- Cardoons
- Fennel (start seeds indoors)
- Asian Greens
- Carrots
- Swiss Chard
- Kale
- Multiplying Onions
- Peas (English, snap, snow)
- Radishes
WHAT TO DO
Central Texas lawns need to be fed twice a year, once in spring after the lawn has been mown twice; and fertilize again in the fall, between late September and early October. There are many good, organic options on the market – look for a solid, slow-release fertilizer with an N-P-K formulation that has a higher amount of nitrogen (N), which is the nutrient that encourages green, leafy development in plants. If you haven’t aerated your lawn within the past 3 to 5 years, then do it this spring. Topdress with compost before or after aerating for maximum benefit. See our complete Lawn Care Guide.
Fall is the best time of year to plant perennials, trees, shrubs, vines, or groundcovers here in Central Texas. It’s also time to plant wildflower seeds (you have until Thanksgiving), and there’s also a small window in early September to plant and establish native grass seed. Many veggie gardeners find the fall season to be more productive than spring in our area, so check out our Veggie Planting Calendar to plan your fall veggie garden.
Horseherb or frog fruit are an excellent native groundcover in shady areas. Horseherb has delicate yellow flowers, while frog fruit can tolerate full sun and has white flowers. Both can be mowed. Another native shady option is pigeonberry, which has pink flowers and tiny red berries that attract wildlife.
Transplant, trade, or give away your divisions of daylilies, bearded irises, violets, wood ferns, cannas, and other herbaceous perennials. Perennials should be divided every few years to keep growth uniform and vigorous. If your larger plants are beginning to show bald spots in the center, or you notice your bulbs not blooming as much as they used to, that’s a good sign it’s time to divide your plants.
Read How to Compost.
Fall is the prime season for this fungal disease which affects mostly St. Augustine grass. Symptoms appear as fairly circular areas of brown patches, which may expand outward and may green up again in the center. While this disease is rarely fatal, it does look ugly. Read our guide on treatment and prevention of brown patch and other lawn fungal diseases.