Third Nav - Monthly Gardening Guide
  
Things to Do in September
Things to do in September
   
Getting the home ready for Bugs
    *Prepare for the fall invasion of the multicolored Asian Lady Beetle and the Western Conifer Seedbug. These species will find their way into your home but cause no damage. Control invading insects by sealing your house (http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/housing/gh5936.htm).
Collecting them with your vacuum cleaner is the best control.
Empty the bag after each vacuuming. You can also prevent rodent
intrusion into your home by sealing cracks in foundation and around windows and doors. Use wire screening and spray insulation to fill large openings (http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/g1530/build/g1530.pdf).
 
Lawn Care
September is a good time for
 
  • Mowing: Keep blades sharp to avoid dull mower injury. Mow newly established or renovated areas when 60 percent of the seedlings are 2.5 inches tall.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize on Labor Day. Apply 1 lb. N per 1,000 ft.2
  • Scouting: Continue to sample for grubs. The orange on your lawn might be rust, a common turfgrass disease. Despite the color, it is not dangerous to 
    humans and can be managed through proper fertilization.
  • Controlling weeds: September is still the best time for postemergence broadleaf weed control. Avoid applications when temperatures are below 50° F 
    or before an expected rainfall 
    *If renovating your lawn, use a nonselective herbicide (like glyphosate) to kill the existing vegetation or physically dig up and remove it. Remove thatch and dead turf grass by raking or using a sod cutter. Add soil amendments (lime, fertilizer, compost) based on soil test results and incorporate into the soil. Rake to smooth out the area. Add a light top dressing of a pre plant fertilizer. Seed area at recommended seeding rates and rake lightly. Roll lightly to ensure good seed to soil contact and mulch lightly if desired with straw. Water regularly, lightly, and gently so that surface doe not dry. Water frequently for at least three weeks after planting and fertilize again three weeks after emergence (http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/lawn/almanac/september.htm).
 
    *Plant lawns until October 15.
 
Garden Care
Slugs
If the area is small – for example, a garden – removing shelter for the slugs can help to control them. The gardener should remove debris, logs, and stones, and trim grass and weeds along the edge of the garden. For high populations, it may be necessary to remove slugs by hand from plants at night. Daytime collection is also possible if the gardener lays a “trap” of boards or shingles on the ground near the most susceptible plants. The slugs will crawl under these at night and can be crushed or removed in the morning.
 
Other methods of control are to search for egg masses and destroy them; to encircle the most susceptible plants with wood ashes, diatomaceous earth, or even screen to exclude slugs; and to encourage natural enemies of slugs – toads, garter snakes, and predacious ground beetles.
 
The easiest way to remove slugs in households is by hand. Sprinkling salt on slugs will cause them to dry out and die. Removing leaf litter from around the foundation of the house and sprinkling a band of sand or wood ashes will create a slug-proof barrier.
 
Bait for slugs with traps or iron phosphate products that are safe for use around pets (http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets/fieldcrops/sg_slug.pdf).
 
 
*Harvest pumpkins (http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene61ea.html) and winter squash (http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene11f1.html) when the "ground spot" changes from white to a cream or gold color.
 
 *Plant garden cover crops as garden is harvested. Spread manure or compost over un-planted garden areas (http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/factsheets/ecogardening/impsoilcov.html).
 
 *Mulch carrot rows for winter harvesting.
 
 *Protect tomatoes and/or pick green tomatoes and ripen indoors if frost threatens. Wrap them with newspaper individually and keep in a cool dry location until ripe (http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/sceneea10.html).
 
Flower Care
    *Dig, clean, and store Tuberous Begonias if frost threatens (http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scenef2e2.html).
 
    *Revive Amaryllis Bulbs for flowering by placing them in a cool area for two months. Stop all watering. Bring them out of storage and start watering 8-12 weeks before you want them to flower.
 
 
    *Check houseplants for insects, then bring them indoors before night temps go below 50 degrees F (http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/entfacts/trees/ef406.htm).
 
    *Use stakes to support tall flowers and to keep them from blowing over in fall winds.
 
Composting
    *Prepare compost pile for recycling vegetation from garden and deciduous trees. Shredded leaves, sawdust, and wood chips are needed to balance high nitrogen wastes like grass clippings and kitchen scraps. Do not compost diseased or insect-infested plant material (http://compost.css.cornell.edu/physics.html).

September Pests and Diseases
Pests in September

Anthracnose
I have seen many trees with brown shriveled leaves this summer. In some cases it may be signs of stress caused by poor soil conditions (compaction, drought, high pH), but in many cases I believe that anthracnose, a family of leaf diseases is to blame. USUALLY, late summer leaf diseases cause no lasting damage to trees, but in severe cases you may see branch dieback. Rake up and destroy diseased leaves to help control recurrence next year.
 
Spruce Spider Mite
The feeding of the mites results in flecking, stippling, or bleaching of foliage of species such as spruce, pine, hemlock, and arborvitae.  Needles turn brown and later drop. Tap the infested tree branch against a white piece of paper. If more than 10 spruce spider mites are seen per tap, take action. Predaceous mites are the most effective option for control. Horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, abamectin, dicofol, hexythiazox, dimethoate (arborvitae, juniper, cedar) or oxythioquinox, can be applied from late August through mid-September. (http://ppathw3.cals.cornell.edu/Trees/SprSpMite.html).
 
Maple Trumpet Skeletonizer
Maple Trumpet Skeletonizer causes brown spots on sugar maple leaves in late summer. Open up the rolled leaves to find the "trumpet" that this leaf feeding caterpillar hides in. Late season leaf loss causes no harm to trees so control is unnecessary.
   
Fuzzy Caterpillar
There seem to be many hickory tussock moth caterpillars around this year. Warn your children to avoid handling fuzzy, stinging caterpillars. Some species have spines or hairs that contain an irritant and cause itching, swelling and/or pain when they penetrate the skin (http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2130.html).
   
Grubs
Grubs in lawn feed on roots of grasses causing brown patches noticeable from September to the following June (http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/publications/grubs/). If you've seen many Japanese beetles or European chafers this summer, consider sampling for grubs by removing a 12" by 12" section of sod. If more than 10 grubs are found, treat with trichlorfon (Dylox). This is the only practical pesticide for late summer application
   
Tomato Late Blight
Late Blight of tomatoes causes spots to develop on leaves and stems. Fruit develop brown greasy areas and the entire plant can wither within days (http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/factsheets/Potato_LateBlt.htm). Tomatoes may be used after cutting out blemishes. All plant material should be burned or discarded. To prevent this disease next year, follow recommendations to minimize diseases and use protectant fungicides such as chlorothalonil, mancozeb, or copper (http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/Factsheets/minimizevege/minimizevege.htm).
 
Hornets, Wasps, Yellow Jackets, and Bees
Hornets, Wasps, Yellow Jackets and bees can become nuisances in late summer. All of these insects are beneficial because of their role in pollination or preying upon destructive insects. Avoid nests if possible or wait until winter when the nest will be abandoned. Nuisance nests in the ground can be treated with carbaryl dust in the evening, then cover with moist soil. Paper nests in roof eaves can be removed with a strong stream of water. For nests within walls inject carbaryl dust or a pyrethroid into the hole and plug. Trapping can reduce numbers of yellow jackets when a strong attractant (garbage bins or concession stands) are nearby (http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/publications/yj_trapping/default.asp?metatags_Action=Find%28%27PID%27,%275%27%29).
   
Tar Spot
Tar Spot of Norway maple (including Crimson King that is mistakenly Tar spot called "red maple) is back again this year. Large black spots are seen on leaves and may cause early defoliation. In some cases that I've seen, the leaf also shows a wilting or scorching. This disease of the foliage does not harm the tree so control is not warranted. Remove or mulch the leaves to reduce occurrence of the disease next year (http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/tarspot/tarspots.htm).
 
Perennial weeds
Perennial weeds such as Ground Ivy, Veronica, and Plantain may be best controlled in the fall. Follow herbicide applications with fall fertilization to help grass fill in those bare areas. Some weeds may need multiple applications of herbicide to control properly.

Disclaimer - This publication may contain pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. These recommendations are provided only as a guide. It is always the pesticide applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used. Due to constantly changing labels and product registrations, some of the suggestions given in this writing may no longer be legal by the time you read them. If any information in these recommendations disagrees with the label, the recommendation must be disregarded. No endorsement is intended for products mentioned, nor is criticism meant for products not mentioned. The author and Cornell Cooperative Extension assume no liability resulting form the use of these guidelines