John Hethrington has been gardening since the age of 9. He spent his early life gardening in Toronto and earned his certification as a Master Gardener before moving to Meaford where he cultivates 2.5 acres with 20 different gardens. He publishes monthly garden tips for local newsletters and his column will appear on MidlandToday.ca as well.
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September is a good time to divide and plant perennials. Master Gardener John Hethrington offers these tips for your September to-do list:
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Fall is the ideal time to divide and plant perennials, particularly Iris, Daylilies, Peonies and many other perennials. Share extra plants with neighbours.
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Buy and plant spring-flowering bulbs. You will be rewarded next spring. Check out Botanas online at www.botanus.com. Add a little bone-meal fertilizer or special bulb food to the bottom of the planting hole. Water well after planting to start root growth.
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Fill in any gaps that may have developed in your garden with new perennials, shrubs and evergreens.
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Bring in house plants when the evenings start to cool down. First, give them a thorough spray with insecticidal soap so that there are no unwanted hitchhikers coming into your home.
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With cool nights and fall rains, it’s the ideal time for lawn repair. Dig out weeds, add clean, weed-free topsoil and re-seed.
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Fertilize lawns with root building “fall fertilizer” with a low first number (nitrogen) and a high third number (potash).
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Don’t use the lawn fertilizer you have leftover from the spring, probably with a high first number (nitrogen). Save it for early next spring.
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Trim back perennials and divide them as needed. Make sure it is a cool, cloudy day to divide and replant – add bone meal when planting and water well.
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Even with the rain we have had, water perennials, shrubs, evergreens and trees deeply. Dig a little test hole, say 14” deep. Check moisture levels. If the hole is dry, water weekly until frost.
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