Labor Day Gardening

In 1882, a man named Peter J. McGuire, a Union Leader in New York proposed the idea of celebrating American workers. That year, the first Labor Day parade was held, sponsored by the Central Labor Union and Knights of Labor in New York. By 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed it into law. Happy belated Labor Day!

Labor Day in the Garden

So September gives us Labor Day weekend, and the first official day of fall this year is September 22—less than three weeks away! Is there anything you should be doing in your garden to prepare for the fall? Well, yes, our garden labor is not done.

One of the first things I do every year about this time is moving all my houseplants that have been summering outside back up next to the house, under the window they will be in for the winter. This gives them a chance to get used to the change in light level while they are still outside, with Mother Nature’s fresh air and humidity to comfort them. This makes moving them back inside next month a little bit less stressful.

To Prune or Not to Prune?

What I’m not going to do to my houseplants is major pruning or repotting. In the fall, when the light levels are getting lower and the days are getting shorter, the plant is NOT looking for any significant changes. Late winter/early spring (mid-February to March), when the days are getting longer again, the plants are waking up after a winter rest—that’s the best time for major pruning or a new pot. Now, if you have to lop off a branch or two to make a plant fit back in its usual indoor spot, do what you have to do.

What About Citrus Plants?

If you have any citrus, this is the third and last time they should be fed this year. Remember that citrus plants need to be fed an actual citrus fertilizer three times: once in late winter (mid-February), once in late spring (around Memorial Day), and once at the end of the summer (think Labor Day).

I’ll then feed the rest of my houseplants and maybe have time to do one more feeding in October (but be sure to follow the label directions on your fertilizer). My houseplants won’t get fed again until late Winter, around Valentine’s Day. During winter, plants are more “maintaining” than actively growing because the light is dimmer.

What About Outdoor Plants?

Regarding your outdoor plants, late summer/early fall is NOT the time to feed. Warmer weather and longer, brighter days in the spring are much better. Do not do significant pruning or transplant outdoor plants until they are dormant mid-winter. A few plants, early spring bloomers like forsythia and azaleas, can be pruned late spring—when their early spring flowers are dying back because they start forming new growth for next year’s blooms, so know your plant’s need. If you aren’t sure, then ask us.

Let’s Celebrate Labor Day in the Garden. Then…

So, this Labor Day, I hope you had a cookout or other fun event. Why? Because now you have labored in the garden.

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The Great Big Greenhouse Gardening Blog
Labor Day gardening is the best time to begin your fall garden, or plan for your spring one.