Southern Gardening - Potpourri for September

With fall definitely in the air, it is time for football games, taking short trips to view the fall colorful leaves, and cooling off from the brutal heat from the summer. And whether you are an Auburn fan or an Alabama fan, Saturdays will be game day for the season. It is amazing how much of our scheduling in the South centers around football games. So for much of you, ROLL TIDE and WAR EAGLE.

In assessing my garden outcomes, the extreme heat and lack of rain did a number on our flowers, trees, and shrubs. In particular, the heat really stressed the dark leaf begonias so much. There was die -back, even though I take care of my plants with daily watering, liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks and trimming back the dead leaves. Even drought tolerant verbena grew very little. Many of the other flowers held their own, but were not what they have been in years gone by. Geraniums wound up being the happiest flowers over the past couple of months.

One task for September is to pull out perennials and annuals which have bitten the dust. Then replant these areas with fall flowers such as pansies, petunias, perhaps marigolds, blue salvia, dusty miller, and daylilies, such as Stella Doro. In the drier and sunny areas of the beds, you may want to add Lantana, and Mexican Heather. I will keep the Geraniums as they will do great in the fall with the cooler nights. Mine need to be trimmed back, cut off the dead heads, and fertilized. Geraniums make a spectacular comeback in the fall.

PLANT OF THE MONTH--CELOSIA COCKSCOMB

This plant is also known as crested celosia, and has a unique flower shape. It has a very distinctive ruffle brain-like form and is dramatic in appearance. Some say it resembles a rooster's comb, hence the name. These flowers can be fan shaped or can be similar in appearance to brain coral. Cockscomb comes in a wide range of colors, red, orange, yellow, purple, and even variegated. They are easy to grow in a sunny location with well drained soil. Cockscomb tolerates heat and humidity and is low maintenance. These flowers look great in flower arrangements and they also dry well. They are native to Africa.

GOOD GARDENING.