In the September Garden – What You Can Do Now!

In the September garden, Mark Weathington, director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University, recommends the following in his book Gardening in the South:

Here is What to Plant in September:

• Trees and shrubs
• Herbaceous perennials
• Spring bulbs
• Fall mums
• Winter annuals
• Fall ornamental vegetables
• Cool-season grasses such as fescue

Fall is also a good time to divide your perennials. As you anticipate planting in the fall, here is one of the most asked questions Master Gardener volunteers get in September along with the answer:

What are the Best Shrubs to Plant for a Screen?

Planting depends on a lot of factors, mainly personal preference and site location. Think about such things as:

• How much time do you need to wait for them to grow? Is a complete screen desired or one that can be partially seen through?
• How much do you like to prune?
• Is it a sunny or shady area?
• What is the soil like? Are there drainage problems?
• What plants do you like?

Many plants can be made into a hedge or a screen. Possibilities include various evergreens such as conifers, small-leaf boxwood types, Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera), and Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragrans).

Some screening plants are popular because they are fast-growing, but they are also considered exotic invasives. These include Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense), Japanese Privet (Ligustrum japonicum), Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergia), Leatherleaf Mahonia (Berberis bealei), Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica), Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora), and Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus).

To find a list of over 500 plants that can be used for screening, go to the NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox at plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Choose:

Find a Plant > Landscape > Design Feature > Screen/Privacy.

What’s Typically in Bloom in the September Garden?