September is a month of transition in the South Jersey garden. Summer color is beginning to fade, cooler days are arriving, and there’s plenty to do before the garden slows down for winter.
It’s also one of the best times to plant, refresh tired areas, add fall color, and make plans for next year’s landscape. Use this September garden checklist to keep your yard looking beautiful while preparing it for the seasons ahead.
Plant Trees, Shrubs and Perennials
Don’t assume the planting season ends after Labor Day. September’s cooler air and warm soil create favorable conditions for establishing many new landscape plants.
This is a great time to:
- Plant trees and larger shrubs
- Add perennials to garden beds
- Fill gaps in the landscape
- Create new foundation or privacy plantings
- Replace plants that struggled during summer
Keep new plantings consistently watered while their roots become established.
Bring on the Fall Color
September is the perfect time to give containers, porches, entryways, and garden beds a seasonal refresh.
Look for fall favorites such as:
- Mums
- Ornamental cabbage and kale
- Pansies
- Ornamental peppers
- Asters
- Rudbeckia
- Ornamental grasses
Mix flowering plants with colorful foliage and grasses for containers that offer plenty of texture and seasonal interest.
Decorate with Pumpkins and Gourds
Nothing says fall quite like pumpkins and gourds.
Group different sizes, shapes, and colors around containers, hay bales, steps, or entryways. Pair them with mums, ornamental cabbage, kale, and grasses for an easy display that celebrates the season.
Keep Watering
Cooler temperatures can make it easy to forget about watering, but September can still bring warm, dry stretches.
Pay special attention to:
- Newly planted trees and shrubs
- Recently planted perennials
- Containers
- Plants located in sunny or exposed areas
Water deeply and thoroughly when needed rather than providing frequent shallow watering.
Give the Lawn Some Attention
September is an important month for cool-season lawns. After summer heat and foot traffic, your lawn may benefit from a little extra care.
Depending on its condition, fall lawn care may include overseeding thin areas, addressing bare spots, controlling weeds, and keeping fallen leaves from smothering the grass.
Continue mowing as needed rather than putting the mower away simply because summer is ending.
Divide Overgrown Perennials
Some established perennials eventually become crowded or outgrow their space. Early fall can be a good opportunity to divide appropriate spring and early-summer blooming varieties.
Dividing can help rejuvenate crowded plants while giving you additional plants to use elsewhere in the landscape.
Not every perennial should be divided in fall, so check the needs of the specific plant before getting started.
Clean Up, But Don’t Overdo It
There’s no need to cut the entire garden to the ground in September.
Remove diseased foliage, declining annuals, weeds, and damaged plant material. Healthy perennial stems and seed heads can often remain standing longer, providing food and habitat for birds and beneficial insects.
Ornamental grasses can also remain standing to provide beautiful texture throughout fall and winter.
Start Planning for Spring
Take photos and make notes while you can still see the garden at its fullest.
Ask yourself:
- Where could you use more spring color?
- Which areas need more privacy?
- Are there gaps that need perennials or shrubs?
- Which plants performed particularly well?
- Where would another tree improve the landscape?
September is also the time to start thinking about spring-blooming bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, and alliums.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is September a good month for planting?
Yes. Cooler temperatures and warm soil can provide excellent conditions for establishing many trees, shrubs, and perennials.
What can I plant for fall color?
Mums, asters, rudbeckia, pansies, ornamental peppers, cabbage, kale, and ornamental grasses are excellent choices for seasonal displays.
Should I stop watering in September?
No. Continue monitoring soil moisture, particularly around new plantings and containers.
Should I cut back all my perennials?
Not necessarily. Remove diseased or damaged material, but consider leaving healthy stems and seed heads that provide winter interest and wildlife benefits.
What should I do with my lawn in September?
Continue mowing as needed and consider overseeding or repairing thin and bare areas as temperatures become more favorable.
Visit Bayview Garden Nurseries
September is full of opportunities to plant, decorate, and prepare for the seasons ahead. Stop by Bayview Garden Nurseries for trees, shrubs, perennials, fall color, mums, ornamental grasses, pumpkins, gourds, and inspiration for your autumn landscape.
Bayview Garden Nurseries
2711 Zion Road
Northfield, NJ 08225
Fall Hours
Monday to Friday: 9 AM to 5 PM
Saturday: 9 AM to 3 PM
Sunday: Closed
Office Hours: 9 AM to 4 PM
Avalon Design Center
Planning a larger landscape or outdoor project? Visit Bayview’s second location:
Avalon Design Center
2819 Dune, Unit 6
Avalon, NJ 08202