Gardening Guides
Central Plains Gardening
Central Plains Gardener's September Checklist
This month, go easy on the deadheading, savor the beauty of sunflowers and look ahead to next year's garden
I’m a teacher, and school always starts in August — way too early. In the Central Plains, that means you’ve got about a month of sweating in your casual dress outfits and being totally confused as to what season it is, especially when your students are wearing shorts and sunglasses. But this seasonal double life is a blessing, because in September you can take full stock of what failed in the summer heat and what’s working now, filling in the gaps. It’s perhaps the best gardening month of them all.
Get digging and plan for next year
September, especially later in the month into October, is good digging weather — for you and the plants — as the cool air and rain return. Perennials, shrubs and most trees planted in fall have time to root before the ground freezes, giving them a head start on next year. Some trees such as honeylocust overwinter best if planted in late summer, so don’t wait too long to plant those.
If you have asters, goldenrods and blue sage getting ready to bloom, remember that if you pinch them back about once a week before July 4, you’ll have more blooms in the fall. Did you?
All kinds of insects will be migrating through the region and looking for energizing nectar — monarch butterflies peak on September 20 here in eastern Nebraska. Hibernating insects also will be enjoying a last meal. As you rejuvenate the fall garden, think about the color that insects bring too.
Enjoy September. My favorite season is upon us, when cool mornings give way to warm afternoons and you can take your students outside while pretending it’s not because you needed some design ideas.
Get digging and plan for next year
September, especially later in the month into October, is good digging weather — for you and the plants — as the cool air and rain return. Perennials, shrubs and most trees planted in fall have time to root before the ground freezes, giving them a head start on next year. Some trees such as honeylocust overwinter best if planted in late summer, so don’t wait too long to plant those.
If you have asters, goldenrods and blue sage getting ready to bloom, remember that if you pinch them back about once a week before July 4, you’ll have more blooms in the fall. Did you?
All kinds of insects will be migrating through the region and looking for energizing nectar — monarch butterflies peak on September 20 here in eastern Nebraska. Hibernating insects also will be enjoying a last meal. As you rejuvenate the fall garden, think about the color that insects bring too.
Enjoy September. My favorite season is upon us, when cool mornings give way to warm afternoons and you can take your students outside while pretending it’s not because you needed some design ideas.
Spikes of Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutan) and Liatris seed heads poke up through mounds of purple asters and white Boltonia. Who says fall is boring in the garden? Does this look tired and spent?
Don't cut it down. Plants such as bee balm (Monarda spp) tend to look scraggly by late summer, and deadheading doesn't always bring back new blooms. Consider leaving the unique seed heads that will be delicately topped by winter snow, making the garden that much more pleasing on the coldest days.
Now's the time to think about what to plant among early bloomers like bee balm so the garden still looks fresh in autumn.
Now's the time to think about what to plant among early bloomers like bee balm so the garden still looks fresh in autumn.
Plant now for next fall. Low-growing blue mistflower (Eupatorium coelestinum) is a good filler for late-season blooms after early plants have fizzled out. It will take medium to moist soil and slowly spread, bringing in butterflies along the way.
Another late-summer filler plant is Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp), which will not give any Susans you know a black eye.
Another late-summer filler plant is Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp), which will not give any Susans you know a black eye.
Insects are hungry for blooms too. Hibernating bumblebees appreciate the nectar on Wichita Mountains goldenrod (Solidago). This dry-loving clumper is about 3 feet wide and tall and serves as a beacon for you and insects as the sun gets lower. Consider planting goldenrod in the middle and back of beds for color well into October.
Blooms into late October. Shrublike perennials such as Purple Dome New England Aster (shown in front) and woods blue 'October Skies' (Aster oblongifolius) are awash with butterflies. New England aster likes medium to moist soil; wood's blue likes it drier.
To the left is a seed spike of liatris. Leave those liatris seeds for the birds, especially goldfinches, who devour them. In fact, leaving everything up — as in, don't "clean" the garden until spring — is a good idea. All those dead plants will capture snow, insulating their roots, and will provide cover for wildlife. Many a flock of juncos has socialized beneath snow-laden grasses and asters in my garden.
To the left is a seed spike of liatris. Leave those liatris seeds for the birds, especially goldfinches, who devour them. In fact, leaving everything up — as in, don't "clean" the garden until spring — is a good idea. All those dead plants will capture snow, insulating their roots, and will provide cover for wildlife. Many a flock of juncos has socialized beneath snow-laden grasses and asters in my garden.
A hummingbird reaches for blue sage (Salvia azurea) an hour before sunset. The seeds of this plains native are easy to sow indoors or out, and the blooms are a true autumn-sky blue. Its narrow footprint also means you can place it among other plants.
Tip: Speaking of seeds — if you want to grow anything inside over winter, gather seeds once the stalks dry out. If you want to place some outside in hopes of new plants, place them on the soil surface and firmly seat them in with your foot so they germinate in spring.
Tip: Speaking of seeds — if you want to grow anything inside over winter, gather seeds once the stalks dry out. If you want to place some outside in hopes of new plants, place them on the soil surface and firmly seat them in with your foot so they germinate in spring.
Sunflowers are the bee's knees. This bee is loaded with pollen that he'll bring back to the nest so the queen can survive the winter. Sunflowers are a wonderful addition to the fall garden because of their wildlife value and because, well, they're neat to look at.
Snacks for you too. You can let the birds have the sunflower seeds, bake them for yourself or store them in a paper bag over the winter in a cool place such as a basement or shed. It's almost a shame to ruin the lovely design above, but I did, giving out the seeds to kids in the spring.
What will you add in the fall garden for next year?
More: Guides for your Central Plains garden
What will you add in the fall garden for next year?
More: Guides for your Central Plains garden