Northern California Gardeners' September Checklist: Planting, Natives & Patio Trees

In the 1960s, working weekends at a nursery, the banner read “California’s Second Spring” — not marketing fluff. Fall truly beats spring here: no garden center lines, no TV fertilizer hype, meaningful football/pennant races, and arguably the best planting window (Sept 15–Oct 15). Warm days/soil encourage growth without summer’s brutal heat; roots establish before cool rains; top growth explodes next spring.

Except tender tropicals (frost in a couple months), almost anything can go in now: cool-season flowers/vegetables, perennials, wildflowers, natives, some bulbs. Also the best time for major landscaping — lawn, ground covers, patio tree, etc.

Flowers by Christmas

Plant cool-season annuals (Iceland poppies, pansies, calendulas and more) this month or early next — blooms by late Nov/early Dec. Blooming slows in winter, then flourishes early spring. Sunny spot, loose well-drained soil fortified with compost. Even a few pots make a splash — Iceland poppies’ crepe-like flowers on slender stems are eye-catching when little else blooms. ‘Champagne Bubbles’ shown: colorful, dependable. “Iceland” isn’t poetic — hardy/perennial in cold climates; in mild California they shine fall/winter/spring, burn out in summer.

Big-Time Planting

Seek garden center bargains for impact plants. For immediate shrub performance: Sasanqua camellia. Smaller flowers than Japonica, but blooms delicately (red/pink/white) early fall–early winter. Unlike one-trick Japonica (thick shrub), Sasanqua is a great landscape plant: low/horizontal as tall ground cover/foundation (‘Shishi Gashira’), or upright/tall for background/hedge (‘Jean May’, ‘Setsugekka’ shown).

Have Faith in Natives

California natives look drab/dry/dead in fall nursery cans — that’s their way. They shine in spring, go dormant in dry summer. Despite looks, fall is good planting time. Ceanothus (California lilac): quick screen, hedge, ground cover, stand-alone shrub, or small tree. For big fast evergreen: ‘Ray Hartman’ ceanothus (shown). Planted now, needs regular water until rains, establishes in rainy season, surges next spring — 1–2 ft new growth and vivid blue flowers by March/April.

A Tree for Your Patio

Ideal patio tree: small, attractive up close, well-groomed, low pruning/cleanup. In Northern California, even hottest climates, crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) fits. Does something pretty daily: summer bouquet clusters (rich red/pink/purple/white), fall yellow/orange/red leaves, winter smooth brown/pink bark. Single or multi-trunk. Beware cool coastal climates — mildew strikes foliage/flowers severely; choose another for prominent patio role.

More Gardening Projects

• Order bulbs: No need to plant spring bulbs until mid-Oct (earliest) to early Dec (latest). Order/shop now while supplies abundant (tulips, daffodils, freesias). In mild NorCal, tulips need 4–6 weeks chilling in fridge crisper before planting.
• Prepare planting beds: For annual/perennial beds, add 2–3" organic matter, work in 1 ft deep.
• Start digging: For large shrubs/trees, digging after long dry season is tough. Moisten area 1–2 days ahead: dig starter hole several inches deep/wide, fill with water several times, soak 2 days, dig to full depth at planting.
• Give existing shrubs/trees a long drink: Check with shovel/trowel. No moisture within few inches? Irrigate with soaker hose/slow sprinkler (as water company/conscience allow). Historic patterns: after 2011–12 dry spell, significant rain may not arrive until Jan 2013. Fingers crossed.