Garden calendar 

Blooming now

September is a good month for plants and flowers.  Among these are spider lillies, roses, plumerias and day lillies.           

September chores 

Watering:  September can be a hot month.  Be sure to water pots and other plants that are in full sun.  They can dry out quickly with Santa Ana winds.  Consider installing a drip system if one is not already in place. This can help conserve water come summer as well as promote the deeper root growth that can save your plants.  These systems are easy to install and can even be retrofitted onto existing sprinkler heads.  Native plants need little extra watering at this time of the year.   

Weeding: Weeds are still sprouting.  Pull out weeds when they are small -- this can save you a lot of work in the long run as one weed that goes to seed will bring hundreds more. Many also have a long tap root or runners under the soil, so if they have a chance to get established, they can be hard to get rid of. When weeding take care not to knock the seeds off of the plant as they will spread easily.

Fertilize:  The lushest gardens use fertilizer.  If you've ever gardened without fertilizer and then decided to fertilize your plants, you've seen the benefits of fertilizing first hand. Plants are stronger, healthier and give better blooms, fruit and vegetables. Please be sure to read the labels carefully and follow the instructions. Too much fertilizer or the wrong fertilizer can damage a plant. Use organic fertilizers whenever possible as the excessive use of artificial fertilizers can cause environmental damage to our ground water, streams and ocean.  

Dead head flowers. Remove the spent blooms on flowers.  This will direct the plant's energy towards making more flowers, rather than making seeds.  Plants also look better when they are groomed. 

Be ready for fire season.  Be sure to clear the brush around your home so it can stay safe during the fire season.  Birds are still nesting so pruning of trees and palms should be postponed until next month unless they constitute a fire or other hazard.  Information on what you can do to prepare for wildfires can be found at the Ventura County Fire Department's  Ready Set Go site.  

Be ready for winter rains:  In addition to cleaning out gutters and making sure drains are open, cover bald areas on hillsides with natural jute mesh to avoid rain water from washing away your topsoil and dirt.  Planting durable ground cover such as ivy or lantana can also help avoid soil erosion.