September Gardening Checklist

By thewriteDuffy •  Updated: 02/02/25 •  4 min read

As the dog days of summer wane, gardeners welcome the cooler temperatures and perfect planting season. Perennials, trees and shrubs are best planted now: They can spend the winter establishing strong, healthy roots before diverting their energy to spring leafing and flowering. There’s plenty you can do.

Perennials

Dig up, dig in and divide. Roll up your sleeves and think bright thoughts as you plant bulbs for spring flowering. Be sure to give any newcomers a good share of water. Starting now and over the next couple of months, once soil has cooled to less than 60 degrees, plant the bulbs of spring bloomers such as crocuses, anemones, daffodils, hyacinths and tulips in well-drained soil, about three times deeper than the diameter of the bulbs.

Trees and Shrubs

Fall is an ideal time to shop for and plant new trees and shrubs. They’ll have a chance to establish roots over the winter, and at nurseries you’ll see the beginnings of true fall colors.

Lawn Care

With just a little bit of effort, you can overhaul your lawn’s health this month to help it thrive in the fall, winter and spring.

Pest Control

Our old slug friends are starting to lay new eggs right about now. Nip ’em in the bud.

Check the edges of your lawn and underneath sticks and stones for signs of eggs. They come in nearly translucent clusters of 50 or so, with each egg about the size of a dried pea.

Maintenance

After completing these simple garden tasks, you’ll still have time to enjoy your weekend.

Harvesting

Overripening is a September hazard, so check fruits and vegetables regularly. Be sure to harvest them if they look, feel and/or taste ripe and ready.

Houseplants

Bring houseplants home for the holidays — indoors, that is — and start preparing holiday plants for best health and bright color in December.

Almost October? Just Want to Get Ready for Fall?

Don’t worry, we’ve got a fresh checklist for you of October gardening tasks too, jump over to our October Gardening Checklist now!

thewriteDuffy

At home, April is a mom, wife, and DIY darling. Among other home projects, she helped her husband Dan renovate their 1986 bungalow and is currently designing and decorating the 2023 custom home they are building themselves. Professionally, April is a writer, author, and online marketer with 15 years of experience writing for newspapers and magazines, building online authority websites, and publishing books.