September Garden Checklist – Daily Plant Checklists for September

Daily plant care tips for September: trees, shrubs, perennials & planters. Keep your garden thriving with Countryside Tree Farms’ September garden checklist.

A key part of the September garden checklist is caring for your trees and shrubs. Regular soil checks, watering, and also pest inspections will keep them strong as they head into fall and winter:

• Stick your finger 2-3 inches into the soil near the base
• If it feels dry, give a deep soak (especially for anything planted this season

• Look for aphids, caterpillars or broken branches.
• Remove damaged growth as needed.

• They lose moisture all winter, so daily checks prevent stress later.

Perennials need special attention in Calgary’s September. This garden checklist ensures they stay healthy by deadheading, light tidying, and also managing self-seeding plants before colder weather sets in:

• Snip off faded flowers to encourage more later-season colour.

• Remove yellowing leaves, but avoid heavy cutting back (leave protection for winter).

• Plants like echinacea and black-eyed Susan can spread.
• Pull out unwanted seedlings if you want a tidy bed.

September brings warm afternoons and cool nights, making container care essential. With this September garden checklist, you’ll keep planters hydrated, refreshed, and full of colour:

• Containers dry out faster in September’s warm afternoons and cool nights in Alberta.
• Give them a drink if the soil feels dry.

• Trim leggy annuals (like petunias) to keep them blooming throughout the month.

• Swap tired summer plants for hardy mums, ornamental kale or asters for an instant refresh.

Every September garden checklist should include seasonal planting, deep watering, and mulching. These steps also protect roots, prepare soil, and set the stage for a vibrant spring:

• Bulbs, hardy perennials, and trees/shrubs all should go in the ground now for the best results next spring.
• Aim to finish major planting by mid September.

Water deeply before a forecasted chinook to protect roots from drying out.

Mulch perennials and the base of trees/shrubs toward the end of the month to lock in soil warmth.