🌿 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.