Toby's September 2023 Home, Lawn & Garden Tips:

for the best Home, Lawn & Garden

Toby has spent his entire adult life learning the best way to have the very best home, lawn, garden, and so much more.
Each month he puts together a new list of tips to help you with a plan that will ensure you keep everything up-to-date and going great.

Check back here every month for the very best tips, advice on how to do it right, and what to do!

 

Lawns

  • Zoysia, Bermuda, and Buffalograss lawns should not be fertilized until spring. Mow and water as needed until lawns go dormant.
  • Watch for white grub damage. Brown grass will lift up like a piece of carpet and white “c” shaped worms with a brown head will be easily seen. If found treat with Dylox (trichlorfon) and immediately apply ¼ inch of water.
  • Fall is the most important time of the year to upgrade your lawn. For information on seeding, fertilizing, weed control, mowing, and watering visit Toby’s Lawn Fall Program on the link above.
  • Keep mower blades sharp. On average the mower blades should be sharpened every 10 hours of use.
  • During September our lawns need 1 inch of water a week from rain or watering. During dry periods lawns will need watering once a week.

 

Trees & Shrubs

  • Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. In fact trees planted in the fall can gain an entire year of growth over trees planted in the spring.
  • Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. VERY IMPORTANT!!! ALWAYS PLAN BEFORE PLANTING. If you are going to plant trees or shrubs this fall, call Rick Barrett, Landscape
    Architect, 913-362-1200 for a landscape consultation. Rick will come to your home and recommend the best plants for your particular situation. Call now before the Fall Rush!
  • Newly planted trees and shrubs should be treated with Mushroom Stuff. Follow the directions on the package.
  • Worst year we’ve seen in years for bagworms. It is too late to spray now. If found, remove bagworms by hand.
  • Watch the water!!! During dry periods, newly planted trees and shrubs should be watered once a week. Trees and shrubs planted in the last 3 to 5 years should be watered every other week during dry periods.

 

Vegetables & Fruits

  • Planting seeds of lettuce, radish, spinach, turnips, and other greens in a cold frame will lengthen fall harvests.
  • Monitor plants for spider mite activity. Continue applications of Horticultural Oil if necessary.
  • Transplant herbs from garden and plant in pots for indoor use this winter.
  • After mid-September remove small tomatoes from plants. This will help remaining full size fruit to ripen.
  • Harvest winter squash when the rind on mature fruit is not easily punctured with a thumbnail.
  • Harvest pumpkins when completely orange. Do not carry them by the stem.
  • Harvest herbs now to freeze or dry for winter use.
  • Gardens need 1 inch of water per week. Water during dry periods when needed. Water early in the day to help prevent disease.
  • Harvest sweet potatoes before a hard frost.
  • Harvest pears before they ripen, but while they’re still hard and yellow-green. They should part from the branch easily. Store in a cool (60-70 degrees F.) dark basement to ripen. Check often, they may take a few days, a week, or longer to ripen.

 

Annuals, Perennial Flowers & Ornamental Grasses
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  • Plant mums, pansies, ornamental kale and ornamental cabbage for fall color.
  • Divide peonies into 3 or 5 pink eyes and plant no more than 1 inch deep. After planting, fertilize with Hummert Flower and Garden with Nutri-Life Fertilizer.
  • Annuals looking rough? Cut back hard and fertilize with Hummert Dyna Green All Purpose Tree, Garden & Shrub or Sure Bloom. They will produce new growth and fall blooms.
  • Perennials, especially spring bloomers, can be divided now. Till or spade in cotton burr compost before replanting.
  • Fertilize spring flowering bulbs; such as tulips, daffodils, crocus, etc. with Hummert Dyna Green All Purpose Tree, Garden & Shrub.
  • Plants need 1 inch of water weekly. Water during dry periods.
  • Cut back and remove peony foliage as it starts to discolor. Fertilize with Hummert Dyna Green All Purpose Tree, Garden & Shrub.
  • Purchase spring flowering bulbs; tulips, daffodils, crocus, etc. now for best selection. Plant them in October.
  • Check plants early morning and evening for insects. This is when they are most active. Only spray for insects when you find them.
  • Take cuttings of annuals now for over wintering indoors.
  • If not done in August, clean weeds from beds and apply Preen Garden Weed Preventer to keep them from coming back.

 

Miscellaneous

  • Houseplants that have been outside for the summer should be brought indoors when the night temperatures hit 50 degrees F. Check plants for insects and if found spray with Insecticidal Soap. Plants are best moved in about 1 month before you turn on the furnace.
  • Now is a good time to get those painting projects done. Check out our video library for great tips on prep, painting techniques and much more!

 

House & Home Tips

  • Check air pressure monthly in tires for better gas mileage.
  • Clean or replace furnace filter.
  • Check the video library for monthly washer and dishwasher maintenance recommendations.
  • Time to check the caulk around windows and doors to be certain your home is air tight. Check the weather stripping too.
  • Call Anthony Plumbing, Heating and Cooling at 913-384-4440 for fall furnace tune up.
  • Cover window A.C. units to protect against air infiltration.