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Practical Gardening Monthly

Hello Gardening Friends!  September is here and the gardens are still going gangbusters.  I so enjoy watching the butterflies and hummingbirds flitting from bloom to bloom ... 

Keep reading for my helpful monthly garden "to do's" below.  Yes, you can still plant!  This is a perfect time to get perennials, trees, and shrubs in the ground before cold temps set in.

Also, make sure to carve out time to savor the outdoors while the weather is still nice.  Grab your favorite beverage and sit back, relax, and revel in your gardening handiwork and the majesty of nature!  

Discover what's new and blooming at FlowerChick.com for more gardening advice, tips, and inspiration for your Zone 5 & 6 gardens ...

"Gardening simply does not allow one to be mentally old, because too many hopes and dreams are yet to be realized."

~  Allan Armitage

Latest Flower Chick Posts
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Flower Chick's Favorite Perennials for Zone 5
What To Plant In September

Do you think you’re done planting by August? Well, think again my friends! 

There are still perennials, shrubs, trees, vegetables and even annuals you can plant in late summer to reap the benefits in fall and beyond …

Don't put those garden tools away just yet!

Discover What To Plant In September By Clicking Here
Late Summer Garden Refresh

When September arrives, it may still feel like mid-summer in Zone 5 / 6. Forecasts might call for temps touching the 80’s, but just because the calendar shows we’re approaching Labor Day … there are many beneficial things to do in the yard. A late summer garden refresh is in order!

Explore Ways To Refresh Your Garden!

September Garden "To Do" List:

  • Plant, Plant, Plant! - this is a great time to plant new trees and shrubs because the roots will have plenty of time to become established before spring.
  • Take Care of Your Lawn -  sow grass seed in any bare spots and also cover with a dense layer of compost to encourage healthy growth.
  • Continue To Deadhead - the secret to a long summer flower show is deadheading.  Remove dead blooms on annuals, perennials, and roses. Snipping dead blossoms encourages the plant to form more flower buds, plus looks tidy.
  • Keep Harvesting - your fruit and vegetables every couple days to encourage production into the fall.
  • Water - check your container gardens / hanging baskets daily; water when soil is dry. If Mother Nature doesn't provide 1 inch of water, water your roses and other flowers in beds.
  • Disease Prevention - clean up as you harvest. Toss overgrown or rotting produce on the compost heap or in the garbage. Remove dying plant matter, which can attract diseases and pests
  • Order Flower Bulbs - for fall planting.  A little work now will reward you with a colorful spring flower show!
  • Wildflower Power -  early fall is the best time to sow many types of wildflower seeds. The key to success is to make sure that your plants have enough time to germinate and establish themselves before the first hard frost. 
  • Houseplant Care - begin moving your houseplants inside as the nights get cooler. Check first for any insect hitchhikers and give them a spray of water.
  • Plant Conifers - this is a great time to plant evergreen trees and shrubs, such as pines, spruces, and firs, because the plants will have time to develop their roots before the winter conditions.
  • Fall Container Gardens - with some of our summer containers looking a bit haggard, this is a great month to revive container plantings by removing spent plants and replacing them with fresh ones that will go the distance into autumn.
Flower Chick Gardening Advice For Zones 5 & 6
Flower Chick Tip:
Yes, There's An App For That!

Do you ever find yourself stumbling upon a lovely flower, tree, or shrub and wondering what it is?  Check out LeafSnap! This free (and very cool) mobile app uses visual recognition software to help identify plant species from photographs of their leaves. I've found it to be highly accurate.  Available for iPhone & Android.

Travel To Midwestern Gardens

Need a little gardening inspiration? Looking for some good cheer and vicarious travel?  Get inspired by the Midwest’s beautiful botanical gardens, arboretums, and other stunning natural attractions! Join us as we visit these wonderful Zone 5 & Zone 6 sites.  

Follow along and plan your own trips … you’ll even find a guide of fun, local attractions to enjoy in the various towns and cities. Come back often as we keep adding new posts to our Illinois Gardens , Indiana Gardens, Iowa GardensMichigan Gardens & Wisconsin Gardens categories.

Quad Cities Gardens: Visit These 8 Scenic Gems

This travelogue features Quad Cities Gardens on both sides of the Mississippi River ... in both Illinois & Iowa. As you’ll see, they range from city parks to gardens surrounding historic homes to the impressive Quad City Botanical Center. Get ready for a splendid virtual gardening & travel adventure!

Visit Ogden Gardens Park In Valparaiso Indiana

Flower Chick pays a visit to beautiful Ogden Gardens Park and Gabis Arboretum & Gardens in northwest Indiana …

About an hour from Chicago, Valparaiso is home to Valparaiso University and two of the most impressive horticultural sites in this part of Indiana.

Explore the Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden opened more than 40 years ago as a beautiful place to visit, and it has matured into one of the world’s great living museums and conservation science centers. 

Every year, more than one million people visit the Garden’s 27 gardens and four natural areas … all uniquely situated on 385 acres ...

Visiting Wisconsin's Boerner Botanical Gardens

With a dozen themed gardens, all blooming at different times of the year, Boerner Botanical Gardens always offers something new to see each time you visit.  

The spectacular gardens include the Rose Garden, Shrub Mall, Annual Garden, Herb Garden, Daylilly Walk, Rock Garden and Peony Garden.

Did you know ... 5 Fun Facts About Black-Eyed Susans:

This sunny flower is easily distinguished by its almost black centers and bright yellow daisy-like petals. Black-Eyed Susans will bloom profusely between June and October in zones 5/6.

They will bloom more frequently if their spent flowers are removed. One warning ... this flower can become invasive in your garden. Be sure to give them plenty of space to grow as they will crowd out other flowers.  

  1. Maryland, My Maryland - It is the official state flower of Maryland, USA since 1918.
  2. I Don't Like Spiders Or Snakes - The Native Americans used black-eyed Susan in treatment of common cold, flu, snake bites, various infections, swelling and earache.
  3. The Best Is Yet To Come - Black-eyed Susan symbolizes encouragement and justice in the language of flowers.
  4. Daisy, Daisy, Give Me Your Answer Do - Black-eyed Susan is also known as "gloriosa daisy" due to its daisy-like flowers that are available in various shades of yellow, gold, and orange colors.
  5. Up From The Ashes - Black eyed susans are known as pioneer plants, one of the  first plants to grow after a fire or other natural disaster.

Containers of Vinca, Begonias, New Guinea Impatiens, and Geraniums by FlowerChick.com

Dear Gardening Friends, Thanks so much for reading!!  I hope you enjoyed the September newsletter and picked up a few helpful tips and inspiration that you can use in your own gardens. 

Take care of yourself, get outside for some fresh air, appreciate the simple things in life, and be kind to each other.

I'll be back in early October with more gardening fun and advice. Looking forward to visiting more botanical gardens soon and sharing with you.  Next up ... Decatur & Springfield, Illinois!

~ Laura a.k.a. Flower Chick

P.S. Click on the social icons below to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest!


Do you like sharing stories?

Is there a botanical garden, arboretum, or nature area you love and would like to see us feature in a future issue?  Please share below ...

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IL 60564 United States

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