🌿 September Garden Checklist for Hampton Roads

1. Start planning your fall native planting
September is a great time to decide what you want to add before the main fall planting season begins.

Look for:

• Native perennials
• Native shrubs and small trees
• Fall-blooming plants
• Plants for wet areas/rain gardens
• Native grasses

2. Collect native seeds 🌾
Some plants will be producing mature seed now.

Look for seed from plants such as:

• Black-eyed Susan
• Coneflower
• Goldenrod
• Native asters
• Bee balm
• Milkweed

Let seed heads mature before collecting. And if you're collecting from wild areas, make sure collection is permitted.

3. Don't cut back your garden yet! ✂️

This is a big one.

Resist the urge to make everything perfectly tidy as summer ends. Many insects use stems, leaves, and seed heads for food and overwintering habitat.

Instead, leave as much standing plant material as possible through winter.

4. Plant fall Natives 🍂

September can be a good time to plant container-grown native plants, particularly if temperatures begin to moderate.

Fall planting gives roots time to establish before next summer's heat.

For Norfolk, I'd focus especially on late September through November as conditions cool.

5. Prepare for native seed sowing

If you're planning to grow natives from seed, September is the month to:

• Choose your planting area
• Remove aggressive weeds
• Prepare the soil surface
• Purchase seed
• Research which species need cold stratification
• Plan where you'll direct sow in October–December

6. Plant for the late-season pollinators 🐝🦋

Don't forget that September is still prime pollinator season.

Native goldenrods and asters can provide critical late-season nectar when many summer flowers are fading.

7. Save those leaves! 🍁

Start thinking about fall leaves before they arrive.

Instead of bagging everything, use leaves as:

• Garden mulch
• Compost material
• Soil protection
• Wildlife habitat

A leaf-covered garden bed can be much more beneficial than a perfectly bare one.

8. Watch your watering

September can still be hot in Norfolk.

Newly planted natives need consistent moisture while establishing, even though established native plants may be relatively drought-tolerant.

Water deeply and less frequently rather than giving plants a little water every day.

🌱 September's BIG goal

September isn't about cleaning up the garden.
It's about preparing it for what's next.

🌾 Collect seeds
🌱 Plant natives
🐝 Feed late-season pollinators
🍂 Prepare for leaves
✂️ Resist the urge to cut everything back
🌿 Plan your fall garden