Although September marks the end of summer and the gradual change to fall, it doesn’t have to signify the end of the gardening season. In this episode, Joanne offers some practical tips and advice for making the most of your September garden.

Topics covered in this week's episode:

September Reset

• Reality check: Hot, dry summer stressed many plants. Use September’s cooler nights/rain to reassess.
• Goal: Keep what thrived, replace what struggled with drought-tolerant options.
• Evaluate & Document

Walk-through: List plants that thrived, survived, and failed

• Take photos now: Capture beds to guide spring moves and timing of blooms.
• New gardens: Observe 1–2 seasons before big changes.

Disease: Powdery Mildew

• Look for: White, talc-like film on peony, lilac, ninebark, and perennials.
• Fix: Improve airflow, remove affected leaves, or cut peonies down.
• Don’t: Cut everything back—September still has interest.

Divide & Relocate 

• Peonies: Divide/move now; eyes at original depth (shallow).
• Hostas: Move sun-stressed clumps to cooler/shadier spots; fall divisions avoid leggy spring growth.

Rescue Stressed or New Plants

• Priority: Root establishment, not top growth.
• Steps: Trim crispy foliage, keep plant tags, and water consistently through September–October.

Clearance Rack Buying

• Inspect roots, not leaves: Healthy = firm, white/tan roots with soil; avoid slimy/sour/rotting roots.
• Perennials: “Sleep, creep, leap," cosmetic top damage is fine if roots are good.

Soil Care 

• Add: Compost, composted mulch, or manure (not more “garden soil”).
• Why: Better nutrients + moisture retention for next year.

Lawn Strategy (Early Fall)

• Dormant does not mean dead: Expect rebound with dew + cooler nights.
• Mow high: Especially before/through heat.
• Weeds: Pull crabgrass before seed set; clear curb/edge weeds to limit spread.
• Overseed/top-dress: Mostly an October task; focus on moisture now.

Japanese Beetles

• Apply nematodes (late Sept): Only if you can water deeply and consistently; they’re swimmers.
• Deterrence: Avoid their favourite plants; instead, place annual geraniums in your garden as they act as a mild repellent.

Tropicals & Houseplants

• Temperature trigger: Start bringing in when nights drop below 16 °C.
• Prep: Inspect, rinse, insecticidal soap, flush soil; stage in garage if needed.
• Figs in pots: Can overwinter in unheated garage; prune in fall to encourage fruiting.

Late-Season Colour (Pollinator-Friendly)

• Shade structure: Sun King aralia (chartreuse), bugbane (burgundy foliage + white spikes).
• Perennials: Japanese anemone, toad lily, native asters (choose over mums; better for insects).
• Compact shrubs: Panicle hydrangeas—‘Bobo’, ‘Fire Light Tidbit’, ‘Little Lime Punch’

Evergreens: Critical Watering

• Need: Deep, infrequent soakings going into winter (cedars, conifers).
• Why: Prevents winter burn; burlap/windscreens are last resort—moisture is key.

Resources Mentioned in the Show:

Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden

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Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible. 

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. Get your copy today on Amazon.

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