🌱 The Garden Wise Journal — September 2026
“Gardening is more than a hobby; it is a lifestyle.”
Welcome to The Garden Wise Journal
September is one of those months when the garden can feel like it has one foot in summer and the other in fall. There is still plenty happening, but now is the time to start thinking ahead.
In this month’s Garden Wise Guy newsletter, we are looking at why fall may be one of the best times to plant, a tough Colorado perennial worth another look, the most important September garden priorities, and one common fall cleanup habit that may actually do more harm than good.
There is still time to make a real difference in your garden before winter arrives.
Feature Article of the Month
Think Spring Is the Best Time to Plant?
In Colorado, fall may actually give trees, shrubs, and perennials a better chance to get established before next year’s growing season.
Cooler air, warm soil, and reduced heat stress can create ideal conditions for root development. Fall can also be a smart time to save money, with many garden centers offering seasonal discounts on plants.
Before you put the garden to bed for winter, take another look around your landscape. A few well-timed planting decisions now could make a big difference next spring.
DISCOVER THIS MONTH’S FEATURED ARTICLE
Plant Profile
Russian Sage: A Late-Summer Colorado Standout
Russian sage has long been a Colorado favorite, but today’s newer varieties are a big improvement over the sprawling plants many gardeners remember.
With silvery foliage, lavender-blue flowers, strong drought tolerance, and excellent late-summer color, Russian sage can be a standout choice for sunny Colorado landscapes. It also brings pollinator value while holding its own against heat, wind, and lean soil.
If you want a tough, beautiful perennial that keeps performing when many other plants are fading, this one deserves another look.
DISCOVER THIS MONTH’S FEATURED PLANT
Monthly Tips
The Garden Wise Guy’s September Garden Tips
September is a transition month in the Colorado garden, and timing matters. Warm days can keep the garden productive, but cooler nights mean frost, irrigation changes, and fall cleanup are getting closer.
- Harvest tender vegetables before an early frost catches you off guard
- Keep watering trees, shrubs, and new plantings while roots are still active
- Get frost protection ready before temperatures suddenly drop
- Tackle weeds, bulbs, mulch, and lawn care while conditions are still favorable
- Plan ahead for sprinkler shutdown and winter watering
A little work now can protect what you grew this year and give next spring a stronger start.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE
Garden Myth Busting
Does a Clean Fall Garden Mean Cutting Everything Back?
Not necessarily. Leaving certain healthy plants standing through winter can actually help protect the garden, support wildlife, and add winter interest.
The trick is knowing what to cut back now and what is better left alone until spring.
The Garden Wise Guy Radio Show
The garden does not stop when the newsletter ends. Join Keith on the Garden Wise Guy radio show for timely seasonal advice, real garden stories, and thoughtful answers to the questions gardeners are actually asking right now.
Every Saturday from 7 to 9 am MST on Legends 810 AM.
Follow along on social media for steady inspiration between episodes, and if something is happening in your own yard, bring it to the show. Your question might shape the next conversation.
Have a question about your own garden?
Ask Keith a question for the next radio show
Keith Funk
The Garden Wise Guy
