By September, summer is coming to an end and it's time to start thinking about preparing your garden for autumn.
Read on for our list of the essential jobs to do in the garden this month!
What to do in the garden this month
Dry Tomatoes
If you have lots of paste, cherry and grape tomatoes, consider drying them for winter storage. Cut tomatoes in half, remove some of the insides and lightly salt. In sunny, dry regions, dry them on slatted racks off the ground in the sun.
Use VELCRO® Brand Heavy Duty Fasteners to attach the drying racks to saw horses, blocks or platforms. Dry tomatoes for about 6 hours, or until the tomatoes are leathery and flexible. Store in plastic bags or glass jars in the refrigerator.
Fasten chrysanthemum pots
September is chrysanthemum season. It's great to select a few varieties of mums in containers to decorate a porch, patio or balcony. Mix and match mum flower colors and shapes and enjoy them until frost.
Use VELCRO® Brand Heavy Duty Fasteners to attach the pot to a wooden flooring or brick siding so the chrysanthemum plants don't blow over during strong winds.
Plant an autumn vertical garden
Don't stop planting yet. Vertical wall gardens can be replanted for fall with greens such as lettuce, spinach and kale. Since they are attached to your house with VELCRO® Brand Heavy Duty Fasteners, they will stay in place and be protected from early frosts.
Harvest Sunflower Seeds
Once sunflower flowers fade, don't forget about the seeds. The flower heads produce tasty sunflower seeds for birds and people. When you can rub your hand over the seed head and the seeds start coming off, cut the flower head off the stalk, leaving some stem attached.
Hang them upside down in a warm, well-ventilated place, such as a garage or shed, to finish drying. Wrap the seed stems with VELCRO® Brand All-Purpose Straps and attach the wraps to wooden rafters with VELCRO® Brand Heavy Duty Fasteners.
Comment below with any more essential gardening jobs for September! And for more gardening tips and advice, stay on our blog!