Those of us living near the coast know that September, dubbed “locals summer,” brings a time of refreshment when we can exhale and reclaim our beaches, grocery stores, and parking spots. In the same way, after a summer of little rain and multiple heat waves, we can almost hear our garden breathe an audible sigh of relief in September.
During the dog days of summer, some flowers take a break from blooming as a form of self-defense. Once temperatures cool down a bit, you will see roses and other flowers perk up and rebloom. Vegetables that have stopped producing will give you a new crop, and you can look forward to a newly ripened tomato while grabbing handfuls of fresh basil before they go to seed. We reach that sweet spot weather-wise when temperatures remain warm enough for annuals and tropicals to survive, but the blazing heat of July and August has relented. Meanwhile, late summer and early fall bloomers arrive on the scene. After a healthy dose of rain, your refreshed garden throws an end-of-summer meet-and-greet as the seasons begin to overlap, and you get to be the honored guest enjoying the fruit and flowers of both.
September in the garden also provides a time of peace to simply enjoy what you have created. We no longer need to run around with the hose, constantly watering our wilted plants, hoping they survive. Instead, we take a leisurely stroll, taking in the fragrance of our favorite flowers and cutting a few of the best for an indoor arrangement. We transition from deadheading our flowers to patiently waiting and allowing them to go to seed. Our fall tasks can wait while we take quiet notes of our successes and consider small changes for the future. In the evening garden, we seek the magical sight of moonflowers secretly blooming as we listen to the serenade of katydids hoping to woo a mate.
Cooler temperatures in South Jersey also mean you can plant new perennials and divide older plants that have overgrown. Choose a cool overcast day – ideally with rain in the forecast. During hot days in the summer, new plants will be vulnerable to stress and may not survive being transplanted. But cool, late summer and early fall days provide the perfect conditions for planting. This will enable your plants to establish their roots before the cold of winter arrives. You will prepare your new perennial with the proper groundwork for its three-year plan to sleep, creep, and leap. In the first year, a perennial seems to “sleep”, since most of the work is unseen, occurring underground as a healthy plant will be working to establish its roots. In year two, you will see signs of life above ground as your perennial begins to “creep”, and new foliage and flowers will appear, showing that the roots are growing stronger. By year three, your patience will be rewarded as your perennial seems to “leap” as it spreads out and reaches maturity.
Hopefully, you have time this September to enjoy a locals summer. A more relaxed chore list for the garden should allow you a balanced mix of beach time and garden time. And life doesn’t get much sweeter than that.
Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.
