September in coastal Orange County is a handoff between seasons. There are still warm days, flowering plants and thirsty containers to look after, but it is also time to plan the garden you want to see next spring. If you are heading to Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar, bring a short list: one bed to refresh, one spot for a new perennial and perhaps a few pots for fall color. You can turn a walk through the nursery into a practical plan for the weekend.
Roger’s Gardens calls fall the prime planting season for Southern California: cooler weather and winter rain give many new plants time to establish before the next summer. Its September gardening checklist adds an important qualification: September can still be hot, especially away from the immediate coast. Match what you buy to your garden’s exposure and keep new plantings watered while they establish.
Start with the Garden Jobs that Matter this Month
First, look at the empty spaces in your beds. September begins the main fall planting season for perennials and shrubs, and plants put in now can develop roots through fall and winter. At the nursery, compare mature size and light requirements before choosing what looks best in a pot. A plant for a shaded courtyard and one for a dry, exposed border will need very different care. It is best to ask the staff for advice.
For quick color, you can still consider warm-season annuals, particularly on the coast. Roger’s Gardens recommends keeping newly planted annuals well watered, removing spent flowers and using garden mums for an instant fall display. The begonias in the nursery’s colorful display and the rows of mums make the seasonal change easy to picture; check the tags for the variety and growing conditions before buying.
The hydrangeas in the display are a reminder that September care is not the same for every shrub. Roger’s Gardens warns that late pruning of older varieties that bloom on old wood can remove next year’s flower buds. If you do not know which type you have, identify it before cutting it back. Roses, by contrast, may produce another strong flush in October and November; the September checklist recommends removing faded blooms, watching for spider mites and watering deeply during warm weather.
If roses are on your shopping list, the online rose selection gives useful price examples: an Icecap rose in a 5-gallon container is listed at $59.99, Abbaye De Cluny at $69.99, and Disneyland Rose at $79.99. These are listed varieties and container sizes, not prices for an unidentified rose in a display. Check the current price and stock before you travel.
Build a Fall Kitchen Garden, One Row at a Time
Toward the end of September, Roger’s Gardens recommends starting cool-season crops such as arugula, broccoli, kale, lettuce, peas and spinach from appropriate seeds or transplants. Beets, carrots and radishes are among the crops it recommends sowing directly. Planting another small batch a couple of weeks later can spread out the harvest instead of giving you everything at once. Prepare the bed first and keep young plants watered if hot weather returns.
The herb tables offer a good place to plan a smaller project. Roger’s Gardens lists 4-inch basil plants at $6.99, including ‘African Blue’ and ‘Italian Sweet.’ That is a catalog price for those named varieties, not an identification of every herb in the photo. The nursery’s checklist says September is a cautious starting point for cool-season herbs along the coast, while October is safer; ordinary basil may begin to struggle as days shorten. Ask which herbs suit the spot you have and check the plant tag for watering needs.
For flowers next spring, buy bulbs with planting time in mind. The photographed shelves include tulips and daffodils, but the September checklist says it is too early to plant those cold-weather favorites. It recommends planting Mediterranean-climate choices such as ranunculus, freesia, anemones and Dutch iris earlier in the season. This is a useful reason to browse the bulb aisle now without planting every purchase immediately.
Think Beyond Flowers: Citrus, Natives and Water-Wise Choices
The citrus display shows why a nursery visit helps with planning: you can compare a tree form with a plant trained flat against a support and see how much room each needs. The online citrus catalog lists ‘Meyer Improved’ espaliers at $199 for 5 gallons, $299 for 7 gallons and $449 for 15 gallons.
Before buying citrus, check the nursery’s planting-address notice: it requires buyers to confirm that the destination is inside the applicable citrus quarantine boundary and says purchased trees cannot be moved outside it. For an existing tree, its September checklist recommends continued attention to watering in warm weather. Potted citrus may still need light feeding through fall, while feeding for citrus planted in the ground is finished for the year.
If your goal is a garden that needs less summer irrigation once established, spend time with the native and succulent displays.
Roger’s Gardens suggests planning California native plant purchases in September for the main planting season beginning in October. Its fall guide lists native sages, penstemons, ceanothus and manzanitas, alongside water-wise choices such as rosemary and westringia. Match each plant to your soil and exposure rather than assuming every drought-tolerant plant wants the same watering schedule. The September checklist specifically cautions against frequent summer irrigation of many established natives.
For a concrete price comparison, Roger’s Gardens lists a 1-gallon Aloe ‘Guido’ at $24.99. It is one example from the succulent category, not an identification or price for a plant in these photos. Original Designs containers combine plants and vessels, so their prices should be checked separately from individual nursery plants. If you are making your own arrangement, ask about drainage and leave room for the plants to grow.
Small-Space Ideas and the Offers Worth Checking
You do not need a large yard to bring something home. The garden rooms include orchids, ferns, flowering plants and composed containers that can inspire a shaded patio or an indoor display.
The pink orchids are decorative arrangements; do not assume their price is the same as an individual orchid. The white hydrangeas, begonias and gardenias in the other photos also vary in size and container. Their exact photographed varieties and prices are not legible, so check the plant labels in store.
There was also a small shopping detail worth noticing: a 25% off sign stood beside a specific display of potted foliage plants. The sign does not establish a storewide plant sale or make the discount applicable to nearby displays. Check the sign and price tag for the eligible item when you visit. Roger’s Gardens separately advertises an end-of-season outdoor furniture sale of up to 70% off select styles, useful if you are refreshing the space around your garden as well.
Finish your trip with a realistic weekend checklist: choose plants suited to your light and available space; prepare the soil; plant cool-season vegetables at the right time; check irrigation while September stays warm; and top up mulch where soil is exposed. Roger’s Gardens recommends maintaining about two inches of organic mulch over garden soil. That layer helps cool roots, reduce watering and limit weeds.
If kneeling in the dirt isn’t for you, you can still bring some greenery home in the form of a hanging plant or basket. Ask the staff which option best suits your lighting conditions and how to care for it. Roger’s September checklist also includes tips on caring for hanging baskets during the dry Santa Ana winds.
Roger’s Gardens is at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar, CA 92625. Its website lists daily hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and phone 949-640-5800; check holiday hours and current availability before going. Browse the Plant Your Garden categories before your visit, then let the displays help you make the final choices. Prices and promotions mentioned here were checked on September, 2026 and may change.
