Terry L. Ettinger Horticulture Consulting Services
Meeting The Needs Of Today With A Vision For The Future
September Weather
Average High Temperature: 71.4°F
Record High Temperature: 97°F (the 4th, 1953)
Average Low Temperature: 51.1°F
Record Low Temperature: 28°F (the 30th, 1991)
Average Precipitation: 4.15" inches
Maximum Precipitation: 8.81" (1975)
Minimum Precipitation: 0.75" (1964)
Record Snowfall: Trace (the 26th, 1989)
Right up through the end of the Great New York
State Fair here in Syracuse, it can be boiling hot - or, at least, in the
upper 80's or low 90's.
While these temperatures can make it a bit uncomfortable as you take in the horticulture exhibits (at right, above), they insure that the temperature of the soils in your lawn and landscape will remain in the 70's through much of the month.
Warm soil temperatures, in
combination with normally plentiful rain and gradually cooling
temperatures (average temperatures are in the mid-60's during the
day and mid- to upper 40's at night by the end of the month) makes September the perfect month to establish or
renovate lawns and add new trees, shrubs, perennials and
spring-flowering bulbs to your
landscape!
On a slightly less optimistic note - unless you enjoy snowskiing or ice fishing - the "S" word does start sneaking back into conversations as the month progresses. In fact, though extremely rare, it's not unheard of to see a flake or two of . . . . . . yup, snow, in the highest elevations of Central New York by the end of the month!
While there's certainly no need to panic, as the month comes to an end it will certainly be time to start thinking about bringing tender plants indoors and making plans for preparing your lawn, landscape and garden for the long winter months ahead!