Henbit is a pretty weed when it blooms, but it is invasive.
Let’s hope that September holds some cooler temperatures. Garden vegetables, blooming plants and our lawns will appreciate it.
September also signals some must-do garden chores. Let’s start at ground level: your lawn.
Does your lawn look like a patchwork of assorted shapes and sizes of weeds? Perhaps you neglected to put down a spring pre-emergent to control them? However, to avoid an onslaught of winter weeds – like poa annua/winter bluegrass, hairy bittercress, chickweed, henbit and Carolina geranium – that may look better than a brown lawn, but can wreak havoc in flower and vegetable beds when their seeds spread.
If you’ve planted fescue, you’ll have a nice green lawn this winter, but it probably had a difficult time staying lush in the summer heat. However, warm-season grasses, like Bermuda and Zoysia thrive in the heat and brown up at the first frost.
All three types will benefit from a well-timed application of pre-emergents. The ideal time is late August until the end of September. Use a lawn spreader to apply at the rate listed on the bag. Be sure to water it in well after application.
Pre-emergents will not kill weeds that are already growing; the intent is to keep dormant seeds from germinating. Do not apply pre-emergents to vegetable or flower gardens that you intend for seed starting. You’ll be disappointed. Read labels to ensure that the herbicide you choose is 1) safe for your lawn and 2) will kill henbit, annual bluegrass and chickweed, three of the peskiest annual winter weeds.
If you have fescue, fall is the best time to overseed your lawn, BUT not if you would rather get rid of winter weeds. You can do one or the other, but not both.
Weeds in your growing areas: proceed with care
Even if you’ve kept up with weeding all summer long, many of those weeds may have already re-seeded themselves for next year’s crop. By starting now, you can reduce some of the headaches for next season.
Pull larger weeds by hand, using a spade or shovel to loosen soil and pull out the roots.
Selectively and carefully apply a herbicide such as RoundUp in the open areas around trees and shrubs where weeds are prolific. Check the package of RoundUp to find out when a treated area is safe for planting.
Don’t use a string trimmer to remove weeds in planting areas. Cutting off the tops will only make the root system stronger and will stimulate more growth.
After pulling weeds, apply a thick layer of mulch. Bark and nugget mulches work better than pine straw to smother out young seedlings. You can also lay several sheets of damp newspaper across the flower beds and cover them with mulch to reduce the chance of new weeds growing back.
Hall County Master Gardeners Fall Plant Sale and Expo
The Hall County Master Gardeners are hosting the Fall Plant Sale and Expo at Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28. While it may sound counter-intuitive, fall is the best time for planting, especially trees and shrubs.
By planting as the temperature moderates, you’re putting your plants on the path to success. As they approach dormancy, their growth slows down and the shrub can direct more of its energy toward establishing a good root system.
Be sure to dig a wide planting hole – not too deep – and refill with native soil, tamping it down lightly. Apply mulch 2-3 inches thick, keeping it away from the trunk or stem. Water well, then water deeply at least once a week.
The expo is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, September 27, and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 28. For more info, visit www.HallMasterGardeners.org, or call the Hall County Extension Office at 770 535-8293.
Photo: courtesy of Pixabay.
