Summer may be winding down, but for plant health care professionals, September is when the real work begins. As temperatures cool and day length shortens, landscapes shift into recovery and root-building mode. The actions you take now, like turf care, planting, or tree management, will have a direct impact on how healthy your clients’ landscapes are next spring.
This post breaks down three key focus areas for fall prep, with practical guidance and tools that support a proactive, science-driven PHC strategy. No hype—just proven tactics to set you (and your clients) up for success.
Turf: Seed, Sod, and Strengthen
September continues to offer ideal conditions for turf recovery and establishment. Warm soil and cooler air create the perfect window for sodding and seeding. If you haven’t already addressed summer turf stress, now’s the time.
What to do this month:
- Assess summer damage like thinning, bare spots, or compaction.
- Overseed to improve density and outcompete fall weeds.
- Support early growth with moisture management and root-enhancing products.
Helpful tools:
- Hydretain®: Improves water availability to support germination and establishment.
- CytoGro®: Stimulates rooting and recovery in stressed turf.
- Turf Starter™: Delivers balanced nutrition for new growth and thickening.
Planting: Trees, Shrubs & Seasonal Color
September is one of the most favorable months for planting. With reduced transplant shock and better rooting potential, new trees, shrubs, and fall bloomers like mums are more likely to thrive when installed now.
Best practices:
- Plant now, before soil cools too much—this gives roots time to establish.
- Focus on below-ground success: Prioritize rooting support and soil microbial health over top growth.
Go-to solutions:
- NutriRoot® (liquid or granular): Combines water management, root enhancing extracts, and balanced nutrition to help plants establish faster.
- BloomPlex®: Encourages late-season flower production with a high-phosphorus formula.
- Soil amendments with humic acid or seaweed extract: Feed microbes and support a thriving soil ecosystem.
Tree Care: Treat Now to Prevent Spring Problems
September is a critical time for proactive tree care. Many diseases and insect pests overwinter in trees and treating them now helps avoid costly issues in the spring. It’s also a good time to correct nutrient deficiencies and rebuild soil biology after summer stress.
Focus areas:
- Disease management: Address conditions like Apple Scab or Beech Leaf Disease to ease symptoms in the spring.
- Insect control: Treat for EAB, bark beetles, and other pests that overwinter in trees.
- Nutrient recovery: Yellowing foliage or weak growth may point to micronutrient shortages—fall is a good time to correct them.
Effective treatments:
- Propizol®: For a range of fungal pathogens.
- PHOSPHO-jet®: Supports tree health and treats Beech Leaf Disease.
- TREE-äge® R10 or G4: Trusted systemic protection against borers and leaf-chewing insects.
- Mn-jet Fe®: Address nutrient deficiencies like chlorosis.
Why inject now?
Tree injection offers targeted, environmentally responsible treatment—minimizing drift, runoff, and pollinator impact.
Final Thoughts:
September isn’t the end of the season. It’s your opportunity to build resilience into every landscape you manage. Whether you’re reinforcing turf, installing new plantings, or treating trees, the investments you make now will reduce risk, improve performance, and deliver stronger results come spring.
Need help planning your fall PHC strategy? Our team is here to support you with expert advice and trusted tools.
