Gardening Tips for September Zone 5

Fall Prep & Planting Guide for Chicago Area

September is a month of transition in Zone 5 gardens. The hot summer days are fading, harvest baskets are filling quickly, and cool-season crops are ready to take the stage. Whether you’re cleaning up vegetable beds, refreshing your lawn, or preparing for the first frost, September is the perfect time to give your garden some extra care before winter sets in. With the right planning, your landscape will stay productive and healthy well into the fall season.

At Perricone Garden Center and Nursery in Volo, IL, we love helping gardeners make the most of every season.

Here are our top Zone 5 gardening tips for September.

• Harvest & Transition Summer Crops

September is the final push for summer harvests. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, and squash are ripening quickly, and it’s important to pick them regularly to encourage more production before frost arrives. Plants that have stopped producing should be cleared from garden beds—this prevents disease, reduces pests, and frees up valuable space for fall crops.

Healthy plant material can go into your compost pile, while diseased or insect-infested plants should be discarded to avoid spreading problems next year. A tidy garden now means fewer headaches in spring.

• Plant Cool-Season Vegetables

One of the best perks of September gardening in Zone 5 is the ability to grow cool-season crops. Vegetables like spinach, kale, lettuce, radishes, beets, and turnips thrive in cooler weather and can be planted directly in the garden this month. If you want a longer harvest window, consider using row covers or cold frames to protect young plants as nights get cooler.

Don’t forget: fall is also the time to plan ahead for garlic. In Zone 5, garlic is typically planted in October, but prepping your beds now will give you a head start.

• Care for Lawns & Perennials

September is the prime month for lawn care in Zone 5. Overseeding bare spots, aerating compacted soil, and applying a balanced fertilizer will keep your grass thick and healthy into next spring. Cooler weather and autumn rains make conditions ideal for establishing strong roots.

Perennial beds also need attention this month. Cut back spent blooms, divide overgrown clumps of plants like hostas, daylilies, and irises, and replant them in fresh spots to rejuvenate your garden. These tasks not only keep your beds looking neat but also encourage stronger growth next year.

• Prepare Soil & Beds for Winter

Fall is the perfect time to build healthy soil for the next growing season. Work compost, aged manure, or organic matter into vegetable and flower beds to enrich the soil with nutrients. Adding mulch in September helps regulate soil temperature, conserve moisture, and reduce weed growth.

Weeding now is especially important—many weeds are about to go to seed, and pulling them before they spread will save you countless hours in spring.

• Protect Plants from Early Frost

In Zone 5, the first frost typically arrives in late September or early October. Keep an eye on the forecast and be ready to act. Simple frost protection tools like row covers, frost blankets, or cloches can extend your growing season by several weeks.

Container plants are especially vulnerable—move them indoors or into sheltered spaces when temperatures dip. Even a few nights of protection can mean more harvests and healthier plants.

September Garden Checklist for Zone 5

To keep your garden on track this month, here’s a quick September checklist:

• Harvest late-summer crops such as tomatoes and peppers

• Clear out non-producing plants and compost healthy debris

• Plant fall vegetables like spinach, kale, and radishes

• Overseed and fertilize lawns

• Divide and replant crowded perennials

• Add compost and mulch to garden beds

• Prepare frost protection materials for tender plants

Wrapping Up

September is one of the busiest—and most rewarding—months for gardeners in Zone 5. With harvest baskets full, new fall crops sprouting, and beds prepared for the coming winter, your efforts now will pay off in both the short and long term.

At Perricone Garden Center and Nursery in Volo, IL, we’re here to support your gardening journey every step of the way. From seeds and bulbs to mulch, soil, and seasonal plants, we carry everything you need for a successful September garden. Stop by and see why families across the Chicago suburbs have trusted our family-owned 25+ acre nursery for decades.