What to Plant in September to Get Ahead for Spring and Summer Success Next Year

With the temperatures beginning to drop and the fall colors deepening, September is a great month to take stock of your garden. From what thrived to what struggled, now is an ideal time to note any gaps and plant up, ready for next year.

Furthermore, at this time of year, the soil is workable and still warm, making digging easier and encouraging plants to get their roots down before winter sets in.

From spring bulbs to perennials and shrubs, I share some of my tried-and-tested favorites from my nearly 20-year horticultural career to help you decide what to plant in September for color and interest next year. But before you start planting, check your gardening tools and, if necessary, consider investing in a border spade (available on Amazon) to help you prepare your borders.

What to Plant in September

With growth slowing and the time to start planting for the fall and next year beginning, it is no wonder that gardeners often think of September as the start of the gardening calendar.

Additionally, with the heat waves almost all behind us, fall rain the norm, and soil still invitingly warm, September is a perfect month for planting almost everything except tender species.

1. Daffodil

One of the most dependable spring-flowering bulbs, daffodils (Narcissus) certainly deserve their popularity. Thriving in borders, containers and even lawns, daffodils are always a welcome sight come early spring. Available with yellow or white petals, daffodils range in size and can also be scented.

Daffodils can be planted as late as November or December, but should ideally be planted from September to October to allow root systems to develop before winter dormancy.

One of the earliest-flowering varieties to grow and herald spring, Dutch Master, available to purchase from Walmart, develops large golden-yellow blooms on stems 16-18 inches tall from March to April.

Wear gloves when handling toxic daffodil bulbs. You can purchase cowhide leather gardening gloves from Amazon.

2. Crocus

Adored for their colorful, yet delicate flowers, spring-flowering crocuses are a welcome sign that winter is coming to an end. They can be planted in containers, at the front of a border, or in a lawn where they can naturalize.

Typically flowering from February to March, spring-flowering crocuses are planted from September to October and are an important early source of nectar for pollinators. Consisting of two main types, you can choose between large-flowering, vibrantly colored Dutch crocuses and smaller pastel-hued species crocuses.

Cold-hardy down to USDA Hardiness Zone 4, Tricolor Crocus Sieberi, available from Burpee, with its violet, white, and yellow flowers, brings color to a garden when little else does.

3. Hardy Geranium

Hardy geraniums, or cranesbills, can be planted at any time of year, just as long as the ground is not frozen. However, September is an ideal time to plant them, as the warm soil helps them establish before the colder months.

Whether purchased or as a free clump from a divided plant, hardy geraniums are a great investment as they can flower for months on end and, as perennials, reliably return every year.

Suitable for growing in USDA zones 5-8 and hugely popular for its long flowering season and violet-blue flowers with white eyes, hardy geranium ‘Rozanne’ is available to purchase from Nature Hills.

4. Hellebore

Another spring-flowering plant that you can plant in September is the perennial hellebore. Blooming during some of the darkest months of the year, hellebores generally prefer partial shade and are perfect for brightening up a dull corner.

With a wide range of hellebore varieties to choose from, you can decide between cream, lime-green, pink and even sumptuous dark purple flowers.

As well as being a great time to plant hellebores, September is also an ideal month to lift and divide any you may already have.

Using the right gardening tool for the job can mean the difference between a pleasant task and a laborious one. A comfortable trowel is an essential tool for small digging jobs. Designed with an ergonomic handle to reduce fatigue, you can purchase the Fiskars ergo flower bed trowel from Walmart.

5. Bay Laurel

With cooler weather and fall rains to come, September is an ideal time to plant shrubs and trees.

Bay laurel, or Laurus nobilis, is a commonly grown herb native to the Mediterranean. An evergreen shrub or tree, bay can grow 40 feet tall if left to its own devices, but is also one of the best trees to grow in a container.

Water well on planting and until established, but avoid saturating the soil, especially over winter. Tolerating USDA zone 8 and above when grown in the ground, bay trees are available to purchase from Nature Hills.

To protect against low temperatures and insulate the roots, add a layer of mulch 2-3 inches deep in the fall. You can use garden compost as mulch or purchase Timberline natural cedar mulch blend, available from Walmart.

6. Camellia

Spring-flowering camellias (Camellia japonica, Camellia × williamsii) are a great choice for adding color and interest over the colder months.

Available with white, pink, red, or yellow flowers, which contrast strongly with their glossy green foliage, camellias are easy to grow when planted in acidic soil and irrigated with rainwater.

Best planted directly in the ground or in a container in the fall to allow their roots to establish, camellias generally grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 9 and in partial or dappled shade.

For classical white blooms with a golden centre, Camellia japonica 'Victory White' is available to purchase from Garden Goods Direct.

7. Corn Salad

With the summer coming to an end, there is still time to plant some vegetables in September.

As a hardy, cool-weather crop, lamb’s lettuce or corn salad (Valerianella locusta) thrives through fall, winter, and spring.

Forming rosettes of low-growing green leaves, with a nutty flavor, corn salad is ideal for sowing in September and can be harvested in as little as six weeks.

It is hardy enough to withstand winter frosts and even snow cover, meaning that you can look forward to picking it early next year.

If you do not have a vegetable patch, you can still grow corn salad in a container or a raised bed. You can purchase galvanized steel raised beds from Amazon.

8. Fava Bean

Growing well both directly in the ground and in containers, fava beans (Vicia faba) are ideal for sowing in the fall or spring.

However, when little else is growing, why not sow some fava beans from late September to October for a harvest of nutty-tasting beans next May?

Hardy and easy to grow, fava bean 'Aquadulce', available from True Leaf Market, tolerates light frosts and develops attractive purple-black and white flowers that later turn into pods.

Fall can be a busy time for gardeners, with gardening checklists to get through before the temperatures plummet. From bulb planting to mulching and leaf collecting, there is lots to do, but these fall gardening tools will help make these tasks feel less like a chore and maybe even enjoyable.

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