🌿 September Garden Checklist – Zone 10b

🌞 Water & Irrigation

  • Adjust watering as temperatures cool slightly—less frequent but still deep.
  • Check drip systems for leaks or clogs after summer wear.
  • Mulch to retain moisture and suppress fall weeds.

🌼 Flower & Perennial Planting

  • Plant cool-season annuals like pansies, violas, calendula, snapdragons, and stock.
  • Divide and replant perennials like daylilies, agapanthus, and Shasta daisies.
  • Deadhead summer bloomers to keep them flowering longer.

🌳 Trees, Shrubs & Landscape

  • Plant new trees and shrubs. Fall is ideal for root establishment before spring growth.
  • Prune lightly to shape, but avoid heavy pruning until winter.
  • Fertilize citrus and tropicals one last time before dormancy.

🍅 Edible Garden

  • Sow cool-season veggies: lettuce, spinach, kale, radishes, carrots, beets, and peas.
  • Plant garlic, onions, and shallots by late September.
  • Start brassicas indoors (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower) for transplanting later.

🌿 General Maintenance

  • Remove spent summer crops and compost healthy debris.
  • Control weeds now before they go to seed.
  • Inspect for pests, especially whiteflies, aphids, and snails, as they linger in warm weather.

🐝 Wildlife & Pollinators

  • Add native flowering plants for late-season nectar.
  • Leave seedheads on some plants like echinacea or sunflowers for birds.
  • Clean and refill birdbaths regularly.