September Garden Tips with Mike Darcy

For me, September in the Pacific Northwest is a wonderful time of year with weather that is fairly predictable, (that means little or no rain). This is the time when gardens are still abundant with squash, tomatoes, beans, sweet corn, peppers and other summer edibles. In my own garden the basil has never looked better! We all have different gardens with different needs and the following is a general ‘to do’ list. Vetch Cover Crop

· Plant a cover crop · Control slugs · Garden editing · Plan for planting fall bulbs · Plant garlic

As the summer garden season ends, instead of leaving the soil barren during the winter, plant a cover crop. A cover crop is simply planting seeds over the space that had been the summer garden. Common cover crops include, winter rye grain, crimson clover, vetch, and Austrian field peas. These seeds are often sold singly or as a mix. In the spring, these plants can be tilled into the soil to provide organic matter, help the soil structure, and in the case of legumes like vetch, Austrian field peas, and crimson clover, they will actually add fertilizer in the form of nitrogen. Slug Damage Slugs are probably one of the most prevalent pests we have to deal with in our gardens. They will often lay eggs in late September and early October and getting some control now will result in less damage in the spring. There are many types of control measures and whether it is a bait or some type of a trap, after a rain is a good time to get results. Using beer in saucers is a well-known organic method of control. When using baits, always check the label as some are very toxic to dogs and others may not be approved for use in vegetable gardens.

September is an ideal time for some garden editing.

If your garden is anything like mine, there are always some plants that are in the wrong place. Gardens and their surroundings are constantly changing. Trees grow and cast shade in areas that at one time were sunny, or perhaps a tree was removed and now an area that was shady is sunny. Often, I find that plants grow taller than expected and need to be moved to the back of a flower bed instead of the front. Take a walk through your garden with notebook and pencil and make notes on what needs to be moved. Hyacinth It will soon be time to plant fall bulbs and now is the time to do some planning on where to plant them. Bulbs like tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocus are all planted in the fall for spring bloom. Our Willamette Valley is ideal for growing garlic and fall is the time to plant it. There are many different types available and I think it is fun to experiment with a new variety. Planting garlic now, will give you a crop to harvest next summer.

While these are just some ideas on garden tasks, I always like to emphasize that our gardens should be a relaxing place to go. Don’t let the tasks overwhelm you. Take time to watch the hummingbirds and enjoy your bounty.

---

We would love to see your garden projects, use #mywilcolife on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and tag Wilco Stores.

---

MIKE’S GARDEN IS LOCATED IN OREGON’S WILLAMETTE VALLEY AND HIS ADVICE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE MILD CLIMATE THERE.