September - Edible

Collect soil for soil testing. Call 773-233-0476 for a soil testing booklet.

Plant garlic - factsheet available.

Lettuce, kale, radishes and spinach can be seeded for a fall harvest.

Pick your own orchards are open. For a free listing of orchards give us a call or check out our Apples & More web site at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/apples

Plant a green manure crop in empty garden areas. Factsheet available.

September - Ornamental

Pull out dying annuals.

Plant mums, kale, flowering cabbage or pansies.

Divide daylilies.

Mildew will develop but fungicides are not needed this late in the season.

Plant shrub roses.

Slugs become active in cooler weather. Control with slug bait or stale beer in shallow pans. Factsheet available.

Do not fertilize roses. If fertilized new growth will not harden off before winter.

Plant spring flowering bulbs. Factsheet available.

Core-aerate your lawn.

Check out our Bulbs & More web site at www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/bulbs/

Prune diseased, damaged or broken stems and branches.

Divide perennials.

Plant lilies.

Reseed lawn in early September. Factsheet available.

Plant trees & shrubs. Factsheet available.

September - Indoors

Take cuttings from coleus. Will root easily in water.

Bring in houseplants.

October - Edible

Pick Brussels sprouts.

Take the family to a pumpkin farm for those Halloween pumpkins. For a free listing call our office or check out our web site at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/pumpkins/index.html

Ripen green tomatoes indoors. Wrap individually in newspaper.

Remove plant debris from the vegetable garden to reduce insect and disease problems.

Cut up old plants after frost and spread over garden beds and dig in.

Add a 2-4" layer of organic matter to garden soil. Dig in 6-8" deep.

October - Ornamental

Pick and dry seed heads for dried arrangements. Factsheet available.

Transplant trees and shrubs. Factsheet available.

Check out the Miracle of Fall web site at www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/fallcolor/

Mow lawn as long as the grass is growing.

Do not winter prune roses until leaves have dropped.

Dig up tender plants such as gladioli, tuberous begonias cannas and dahlias. Factsheet available.

Become a Master Gardener. Applications available.

Continue to plant spring flowering bulbs.

Pot bulbs for forcing indoors. Factsheet available.

Water newly planted bulbs.

Fertilize bulbs with a 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of l lb/100 square feet. Water in.

Plant bulbs in groups.

Squeeze a bulb before planting. It should be firm, not soft. Throw away soft bulbs.

Cover plants with a couple of layers of newspaper held in place with rocks for frost protection.

Rake leaves and start a compost pile. Booklet available.

Put up bird feeder for birds. Factsheet available.

October - Indoors

Bring wax begonias indoors for winter bloom. Wash soil from roots and pot in a soil mix. Place in a sunny window.

Start a worm bin. Factsheet available or check out our site at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/

Reduce fertilization and watering of houseplants as days get shorter.

 

Autumn 1999
Fall Garden Chores | Tips on How to Avoid Plant Diseases | Diagnosing Tree Root Problems | Bacterial Wilt of Vine Crops | Pesticide Shelf Life | Lawn Care Calendar | Boxelder Bugs | Cybergarden Sites | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | High Blood Pressure | A Good Night's Sleep | Peaches | Health & Household Tips | Did You Know?

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