September is a lovely month to begin the big change over in our gardens and in our seasonal decorating. The nights will begin to cool and that cozy feeling comes over us all. Though as humans we don’t hibernate, I think a lot of us begin to relax a bit and look forward to fall soups and a warm fire. Let’s talk about fall decorating first. Say goodbye to petunias and hello to mums! Decorative garden mums are colorful, easy, and will welcome guests to your home all through Autumn. We have many colors and sizes that we grow in our greenhouses just for you to enjoy this time of year. Mums love sun but want to be watered daily. They will last all Autumn with very little care other than watering. You can plant them in your gardens, and though we don’t warranty them as perennials, some do come back. We choose to bring you garden mums rather than perennial mums in the Fall because of the color choices available in them. Colors range from yellow, orange, pink, coral, lavender, burgundy, and peach. More plants to choose from will be kale, dusty miller, pansies, and purple fountain grass. You can make a grouping for your entry design bringing in a straw bale and as the season progresses you can add pumpkins, gourds, corn shocks, and wheat bundles. Oh what fun September brings us!
Thinking about mums and all the beautiful colors available, Pahl’s donates 10% of every pink mum sale to Piper Breast Center at Abbott Northwestern Hospital right here in the Twin cities. You can enjoy them and help others at the same time. Now that is a winner for all!
We do need to touch on some early Fall garden chores to do in September. This month you need to water more than usual. As true Autumn approaches you will find that the humidity drops and plants need more moisture. Be sure to watch your trees and shrubs and give them an inch of water weekly. Lawns are very happy with additional water now too. Speaking of lawns—mid-September is a great time to plant grass seed. Fall seeded lawns make for great Spring lawns. Even overseeding existing grass works very well in September.
September is the beginning of the end to some favorite garden annuals. Usually in September petunias get tired, zinnias begin to decline, and many hot summer bloomers reach their life span. I think it feels kind of good to remove tired plants and freshen up with things that do well this time of year. As far as perennials, you can still enjoy some beautiful blooms. Turtlehead, monkshood, Fall asters, and perennial hibiscus to name a few. The rest of your perennials should be deadheaded regularly and we will talk about real clean-up next month.
As the song says – I hope you remember September with a short list of chores and a smile.
“Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh so mellow
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain so yellow
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a young and a callow fellow
Try to remember and if you remember
Then follow–follow, oh-oh.”
– Try to Remember, Lyrics by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt
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