September marks the end of the summer season and the onset of fall, which officially begins on Sept. 23. As the weather grows cooler and milder, we’ll see the change in the plants, shrubs and trees.

Foliage begins to change and the colors of the berries and fruits become more prominent as the leaves die back and fall. An early frost can occur in September and, if so, it will affect the fall foliage color and when it will peak in Ohio. For Ohio, the usual peak color period is from mid- to late-October.

Early frosts are often mild this month and do not damage most annuals, which will keep blooming until the first hard frost. September is a wonderful time to enjoy your gardens as the tasks of weeding and watering are less demanding now and the milder weather often brings out the best in many flowers and foliage plants.

With Sept. 23 not far away, the following reader questions bring up some fall interests.

Question: I’ve heard of “hardening off” a plant in the spring but what does “hardening off” plants in the fall mean?

Answer: The process of “hardening off” a plant in the spring is quite different than the “hardening off” done in the fall. Beginning in April or early May, gardeners “harden off” plants by placing them outdoors in a sheltered area during the warmest part of the day to prepare them for later planting in gardens of beds. This practice helps young plants adjust to growing outside after being raised indoors or in greenhouses.

“Hardening off” in the fall helps prepare established plants in beds, yards, and gardens for the cold, harsh weather of winter. This process is accomplished by withholding water so that growing shoots can lignify (produce a tough, hard coating) so that they are prepared to better tolerate the cold. This process also stops any new, tender growth on plants.

Check your trees, shrubs and perennials in the fall and look for new shoots. If the new growth is light green and tender, starting now, stop watering these plants and this will help the shoots of new growth to “harden off” or develop the tough layer that will protect them through the coming cold months.

Question: I really enjoy my flowers and trees and get a lot of relaxation from working in my yard. Lately, I have been wanting to add plants and anything else that will attract more birds and wildlife. With winter not far off, I would like to start planning and working on this to prepare for next spring. How about some ideas?

Answer: When selecting plants for your yard, garden, or planters try to make sure that at least some of them are native to our area. Birds and wildlife are used to feeding on native plants and will much more quickly come to yards and gardens that offer them the foods they know. For other plants that you will want to use, find varieties that produce pollen, fruits, and seeds that are appealing to wildlife.

Natives you may want to use include Golden Rod, black-eyed Susan, Coneflower, Joe-Pye weed, Catmint, Big Bluestem, Common Milkweed, Blazing Star, Elderberry, New England Aster, Indian Grass, Ironweed, Lady Fern, Sedge, Switch Grass, Wild Geranium, Wild Strawberry, etc. For more native plants try the website at www.maumeevalleygrowers.com.

Others to try: Bergamot, Bee balm, Yarrow, Penstemon, Trumpet Vine, Clary Sage, Sunflower, Salvia, Verbena, Viburnum, Zinnia, Ajuga, Salvia, Fennel, Hackberry, Coral Bells, American Beautyberry, Astilbe, Lantana, Cosmos, Betterfly Bush, Althea, Parsley, etc. For more plants try the website at www.birds-n-garden.com (this website lists plants and the animals and insects they will attract).

Secondly, include a water feature in your yard, garden, or near a deck or patio where your potted plants are arranged. This feature can be as simple as a small birdbath or pan of water or more elaborate as a fountain or pond with a quiet shallow area where birds, butterflies and insects can rest and drink. A ground-level water feature will also attract frogs and toads that will help you in getting rid of harmful insects in your yard.

Thirdly, especially in the winter and early spring, provide a variety of bird feeders with seed selected to attract different species of birds. Set the feeders at different levels because various kinds of birds feed at higher or lower levels.

My own experience has been that more birds come to my lower level feeders than to the feeders that are higher up. Remember too you do not need trees to put up feeders. Hang some along deck railings or set them on your patio or deck. In the early spring when migrating birds are passing through, give attention to providing lots of selection in your feeder seed and you will attract varieties that you will not see later in the year.

Finally, provide shelter that offers protection and safe refuge for the wildlife that will come regularly to feed and visit in your “created habitat” area. Dense shrubs, tall grasses, and thickly leafed trees and shrubs are excellent places for birds and small visitors to rest and hide. You may also want to create small brush piles made of cut branches and twigs, etc. in out of the way places in your yard. Toad and birdhouses can be placed in quiet areas as well.

Creating a “wildlife habitat” is not only an interesting and fun activity but tremendously rewarding when the birds, butterflies, bees, toads and so much more reward you with their own interesting, beautiful, and beneficial presence year round. They make your gardens, yards, decks, patios, etc. more enjoyable than ever.

September Tip: September is a great time to add top dressings to your soil but it is not the time to fertilize. Fertilizing will encourage new growth on plants that will be too weak to handle to winter weather ahead. Top dressing, on the other hand, will add nutrients to the soil that need the winter to break down and provide you with richer, more fertile soil for the plants that will need it in the spring.

If you have garden questions or tips for other gardeners, send them in to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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