Apopka gardeners can celebrate September with these annuals, bulbs, herbs and vegetables

The Gardening Calendars on the UF/IFAS Solutions for Your Life website gives Florida gardeners a monthly guide for what to plant and do in your gardens and includes links to useful gardening websites, all based on University of Florida research and expertise. Three different editions of the calendar provide specific tips for each of Florida’s climate zones—North, Central, and South.

Here is everything you need to know about planting and caring for your lawn and garden in September:

Annuals/Bedding plants: If summer beds need refreshing, try ageratum, coleus, celosia, zinnia, and wax begonia for color into fall. See Annuals: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_annual_landscape_plants

Bulbs: Add color, texture, and pattern to the garden with the many varieties of elephant's ear that are available. See Bulbs for Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_bulbous_flowers

Herbs: Plant herbs that tolerate the warm temperatures of early fall, such as Mexican tarragon, mint, rosemary, and basil. See Herbs: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_herbs

Vegetables: It is hot, but numerous cool-season (as well as warm-season) crops can be planted. See Vegetable Gardening in Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening. And check out this site for more info on growing vegetables.

WHAT TO DO

Lawn problems: Continue to monitor the lawn for signs of insect damage. Fall armyworms, chinch bugs, mole crickets, and sod webworms are still active this month. See Turfgrass Pest Insects: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_turf_pest_insects

Perennials and bulbs: Divide and replant perennials and bulbs that have grown too large or need rejuvenation. Add organic matter to new planting areas and monitor water needs during establishment. See Seeds and Propagation (Lawn and Garden): https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_garden_propagation

Irrigation: Check that irrigation systems are providing good coverage and operating properly before summer rains taper off. See Landscape Irrigation: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_landscape_irrigation

Citrus: Fertilize citrus with a balanced fertilizer either this month or in October. If the weather has been rainy, do not use soluble nitrogen as rains will leach it from the soil too quickly. See Home Citrus Culture: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_citrus_home_citrus_culture

Fertilizer Bans: Some municipalities in central Florida prohibit the application of fertilizer to lawns and/or landscape plants during the summer rainy season (June–September). See if such an ordinance exists in your area.

Vegetable gardens: Prepare the fall vegetable garden if not done in August. Using transplants from your local garden center will get the garden off to a fast start, but seeds provide a wider variety from which to choose. See Vegetable Gardening in Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening

Apopka UF/ IFAS Location

UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research & Education Center

2725 S. Binion Rd.

Apopka, FL 32703

Phone: (407)410-6961

Email: lfelter@ufl.edu

Hours: Every Tuesday 1pm - 4pm, excluding holidays.