September Outdoors

Sow a fall cover crop at least 4-6 weeks before hard frosts. Annual rye can be sown at a rate of 1-2 pounds per 1000 square feet.

Have your soil tested. Soil testing labs are less busy in the fall. Call us for a soil-testing booklet. 773-233-0476.

Start a compost pile. Call us at 773-233-0476 to receive a free compost booklet.

Start worm composting indoors. One thousand worms will decompose 2-3 pounds of food scraps per week. Call us for a free factsheet at 773-233-0476.

Harvest winter squash. Cut with a piece of stem attached. Discard any with soft spots. Will keep for 3-4 months stored in a cool basement.

Plant radishes, lettuce, kale and spinach for fall harvest.

Take your family to a nearby orchard to pick apples. Do not pull apples off the tree; jerking the apples will leave a hole in the fruit; decay will develop. Place apples gently into container when harvesting; never throw them or you will bruise the apple. Visit our Apples & More website.

Harvest sunflower seeds when seeds are firm. Cut the head leaving 8-12 inches of stem. Hang heads in a dry area to finish ripening.

Herbs can be dried in the microwave. Place herbs between two paper towels and microwave for one minute. Let cool and check if leaves are crisp. If not, microwave a few seconds until crisp. Store in jars in dark, cool place.

Use an old plastic laundry basket to harvest vegetables. After harvesting spray vegetables with hose. Avoid messy clean-up in the kitchen.

September Ornamental

Plant pansies and ornamental kale as weather cools.

Divide daylilies. Call us for the available factsheet.

Seed bare spots in your lawn in early September.

Plant trees and shrubs. Call us for the available factsheet.

Plant lily bulbs for spectacular blooms next year. Cover plantings with mulch after ground has frozen.

Transplant trees & shrubs. Call us for available factsheet.

Save seeds from mature, non-hybrid flower heads. Place seeds on newspaper. Turn often as they dry. Place in glass jars and store in cool place (40-50°F).

Plant chrysanthemums in containers for fall color.

Paint wooden fences. Cool, dry, fall days are ideal for painting.

Control broadleaf weeds in your lawn such as chickweed, clover, dandelions and plantain.

Make original stationery by enclosing plants with interesting foliage, shapes and colors between two transparent sheets to protect the bed of the copier. Duplicate on a copying machine like any other document.

September Indoors

Force spring flowering bulbs indoors for holiday blooms. Call us for available factsheet.

Wash windows so indoor plants will receive maximum light during winter.

Bring houseplants back into indoor environment before temperatures go below 55°F. Drastic changes in environment for houseplants can cause leaf drop.

Check houseplants for insects and diseases before bringing back indoors. Isolate them from other houseplants for 2-3 weeks.

October Outdoors

Protect plants when frost is predicted. Keep tarp, plastic, blankets and cardboard boxes handy.

Fry or pickle small green tomatoes that will not ripen.

Harvest tomatoes that show pink; they should ripen indoors. Wrap individually in newspaper or spread them in a single layer and cover with newspaper.

Harvest pumpkins before a hard frost leaving 4-6 inches of the stem attached. Do not carry by stem. Free listing of Pick Your Own pumpkin farms available.

Cut back chives and pot up for indoors. Give them a month of cold temperatures and bring indoors.

Remove weeds from the garden. They are a great place for insects to overwinter.

Dig up vegetable garden after killing frosts and incorporate 2-4 inch layer of organic matter.

Pull up the hot pepper plants and hang them to dry. They store well in a cool, dark place.

October Ornamental

Check out the magnificent fall colors at the Morton Arboretum and Cook County forest preserves. Check out the University of Illinois Extension’s Miracle of Fall website for places to see fall color in the Midwest.

Plant spring flowering bulbs. Most bulbs can be planted until the ground freezes. Call us for available factsheet.

Harvest gladiolus corms before the first frost.

Avoid buying tulip bulbs that have soft spots or bruises.

Plant tulips in groups of one color for a showy effect.

Rake up leaves, twigs and fruit from crabapple trees to reduce apple scab.

Fertilize trees as leaves drop. Nutrients will be used by tree to develop stronger root systems.

Dig up dahlias after hard frost. Cut back the tops. Dry them in warm sun for two days and brush off soil. Dust with fungicide and store in vermiculite.

Remove leaves from the lawn. Leaves left on lawn will kill underlying grass.

Continue to mow grass as long as it is growing.

Hand raking those leaves is great exercise. One hour of raking will burn 300-500 calories.

Harvest ornamental grasses for dried arrangements.

Move garden chemicals to area where temperatures do not drop below 40°. Keep them out of reach of children and pets.

Clean up leaves from around roses and peonies. Leaves can harbor diseases and provide a place for insects to overwinter.

Emerging leaves from fall planted spring flowering bulbs is not unusual. The bulbs will produce flowers in the spring.

Drain plastic garden hoses before storing away for the winter. They will crack if allowed to freeze with water in them.

October Indoors

Plant wheatgrass indoors. It grows like grass. Great project for kids. Wheatgrass is available from Gourmet Greens, 198 Dodge Road, Chester, VT 05143. Write for ordering information.

Plant grapefruit or orange seed in potting soil. Makes a nice foliage plant.

Reduce watering and fertilization of houseplants as days get shorter.

Autumn 1998
Powdery Mildew Thrives Now | "Wet Feet" of Shrubs, Trees & Flowers | Baking Soda Update | Some Tips on Buying Firewood | Lawn Care Caldenar | Bug Bites: Slugs | Cybergarden Sites | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | Refrigerator Storage | Locally Grown: Edible Flowers | Pre-Washed Salad Greens | Foodborne Illness: What Consumers Need to Know | Health & Household Tips | Did You Know?

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