5 Things to Do in Your Garden This September

1. Refresh Planters, Pots, and Garden Beds:With cooler temperatures arriving, it’s the perfect time to swap out summer annuals for fall favorites. Think pansies, violas, ornamental cabbages and kales, mums, and asters. These hardy plants thrive in the crisp September air and will bring color and texture to your garden well into the fall. Giving your containers fresh soil and a little fertilizer will help your new plants get off to a strong start, and adding mulch can help retain moisture as temperatures fluctuate.

2. Plant Perennials: September is ideal for planting perennials while the ground is still warm. This gives them time to establish roots before winter, setting the stage for a lush, healthy, and vigorous garden in the spring. Planting now also allows perennials to adjust to their new location and gain strength, making them more resilient to cold weather and better prepared to thrive in the months ahead.

3. Bring Houseplants Indoors: If you’ve been enjoying your houseplants outdoors all summer, now is the time to bring them back inside before the first frost. Take a close look for pests like aphids, spider mites, or scale—treat any issues before your plants come indoors to keep your home and other plants safe. This is also a great opportunity to prune, clean leaves, and refresh the soil in their containers so your plants start the fall season strong.

4. Process Your Harvest: September often brings a bounty of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Take some time to preserve your harvest so you can enjoy it later: can your tomatoes, pickle cucumbers, dry herbs, or freeze fresh berries. Preserving your harvest not only reduces waste but also allows you to savor the flavors of your garden well into the colder months, and it’s a satisfying way to extend the work you’ve put into your summer garden.

5. Plant Cool-Weather Crops and Spring Bulbs: Cool-weather vegetables like lettuce, broccoli, kale, and spinach can be planted now for a fall and early winter harvest. At the same time, it’s the perfect month to plant spring-blooming bulbs such as daffodils, crocuses, tulips, and hyacinths. Planting bulbs in September allows them to establish roots and ensures a beautiful, early spring display in your garden. Adding bulbs in groups or patterns can also create more visual impact in your flower beds next spring.

🍁 Pro Tip: Keep an eye on your watering as temperatures cool—it’s easy to let planters dry out, but new fall plantings need consistent moisture while they settle in.September is all about preparing, refreshing, and setting your garden up for success both now and in the coming months. Whether you’re adding color to your patio, planting perennials, or preserving your harvest, Deep Creek Garden Center hopes this month inspires you to enjoy the transition and watch your garden thrive.

                          Deep Creek Garden Center Seasonal:                            Late March-Mid October

                          2330 NE Hogan Dr.                                                            Christmas: Black Friday thru December

                          Gresham, OR, 97030                                                          503-492-2100

Keep us in mind this holiday season for fresh, locally grown Christmas trees and wreaths from our own family farms. Nobles, Nordmanns, Grands and Douglas Firs, both green and flocked!

Proudly serving Gresham & surrounding areas of Sandy, Boring, Damascus, Troutdale, Fairview, Portland, Welches, Rhododendron, Eagle Creek & Estacada for over 30 years.