Trees & Shrubs:

Fall is prime planting season in Mississippi because roots establish well in cooler soil. By planting in September–November, your trees and shrubs get a head start before next summer’s heat.

Now is the time to start prepping and planning what to plant this fall. There is never a better time to plant than now!

Recommended Plants:

Because it is the perfect time of year to plant, the is not limit to what is good to plant in the fall. Any tree/shrub you plant now will have ample time to establish roots in time for next summer's heat.

Recommended Plants:

• Sasanqua Camellia (shi shi, yuletide, etc) - these shrubs will be blooming in the fall months
• Small fruit trees are also a good choice to plant this time of year.
• Hardwood trees - Maple, Bald Cypress, Oak, Elm are all good hardwood trees to plant in our area that will benefit from fall planting.

Flowering Trees:

• Crape Myrtle - summer blooms
• Redbud (Eastern or Oklahoma) – Spring flowers; does well in partial shade.
• Dogwood (Flowering or Kousa) – Iconic southern favorite, best in filtered light.
• Magnolia (Little Gem, Teddy Bear, Southern Magnolia) – Evergreen with fragrant flowers.
  

Evergreen Trees

• Carolina Sapphire Cypress – Fragrant, blue-green foliage.
• Eastern Red Cedar – Native, drought-tolerant, and wildlife-friendly.
• Holly (Nellie Stevens, Savannah, Foster’s) Great for screening, berries for wildlife.

When planning new trees and shrubs, use Callaway’s Bed Builder to improve soil before
planting and be sure to provide daily watering. Water with Ferti-lome Root
Stimulator weekly for up to 5 weeks.

Perennials

September is a perfect time to divide, move, and plant new perennials. Cooler weather reduces transplant stress.

• Sun Loving: Dianthus, Coneflowers, Coneflowers (Echinacea), Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), Gaillardia (Blanket Flower), Coreopsis, Mexican Bush Sage
• Shade Loving: Autumn Fern, Heuchera, Hostas, Liriope
• But remember you can plant dormant perennials now to give them a leg up at establishing before next summer.

Be sure to cut back tired summer perennials and refresh beds with fall mulch.

Annuals:

By late September, you can begin planting cool-season color that thrives through fall and into winter. Your summer annuals will hang on until the first killing frost. Temperatures will need to be consistently around 28 degrees for a "killing frost."

Sun Loving: Pansies, Violas (Johnny Jump Ups), Snapdragons, Dusty Miller, Ornamental Kale & Cabbage

Shade Loving: Alyssum.
Petunias, Pansies, & Violas can handle part shade.

Tropicals:

Watch the temps! Its time to start thinking about when to move your tropicals, potted fruit trees, and house plants inside for the colder months.

Vegetables

September is fall vegetable garden season! Start transplanting cool-season crops and direct sow greens for steady harvests.

Transplant in September:
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, and Lettuce

Direct Sow in September:
Turnips, Mustard Greens, Collard Greens, Kale, Spinach, Radishes, Carrots, and Beets.

Cool Season Herbs:
Parsley, Cilantro, Dill, and Chives.

Keep soil moist and mulch around where seeds are planted to help retain moisture in the soil. Do not mulch over top where seeds are planted. Wait until seedlings have sprouted and developed true leaves before mulching around them, but not over them.

Attract Pollinators

Early fall flowers keep pollinators active and healthy.

Don't forget to keep hummingbird feeders filled. They will be migrating soon! Shop our
hummingbird feeders!

Pruning & Cleaning

• You can lightly prune now. But don't give your plants a heavy prune. Heaving pruning will promote new growth which will not do well when it is hit by the frost.
• Maintenance pruning: remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches.
• Cut back faded annuals to refresh beds.
• Clean up summer vegetable beds and prep for fall planting.

Insect & Pest Control

• Keep scouting lawns for armyworms and grubs.
• Protect fall veggie transplants from cabbage worms and flea beetles.
• Watch ornamentals for scale, aphids, and mites.
• Stay ahead of fire ants before they re-establish in fall.
• Keep an eye for thrips. They with continue on flowers, roses, and fall vegetables (especially tomatoes).

Repotting

Cooler temps are a great time to think about repotting plants that are root bound. Once we leave the hot months behind plants will be less stressed with the change in their environment that comes with splitting or repotting.

Lawn Care

September is one of the best months for lawn improvement.

• Fertilize with a slow-release lawn food (avoid high nitrogen).
• Reseed or overseed bare spots in late September–October.
• Water deeply once or twice a week.
• Keep an eye out for army worms. Their peak season is late August through early fall. If Army Worms are present, use Hi-Yield 38-Plus or Bug Blaster. More info on treating and preventing armyworms!

Get instructions specific to your grass:

• Bermuda & Zoysia
• Centipede
• St Augustine

Mulch & Straw

Refresh mulch/pine straw around trees, shrubs, and garden beds:

• Maintain 2–3 inches of mulch or pinestraw
• Replenish after heavy rain
• Keep mulch pulled back from base of stems/trunks

Mulch keeps soil cool, retains water, and reduces stress in the hottest month of the year. It is also effected in keeping weeds away.