September is when the garden starts acting a little strange. Summer’s heat is still hanging on, fall is beginning to make an appearance, and plants, insects, fungi and wildlife are all responding to the changing conditions. This is the month when a perfectly ordinary walk through the garden can leave you wondering, “What in the world is that?”
Before you grab the pruning shears, hose or pesticide, take a closer look. Some of the strangest things we see in the September garden are perfectly natural—and some are actually signs of a healthy ecosystem.
The Strange Balls on the Oak Leaves
If you notice little round balls attached to your oak leaves or twigs, don’t panic. They’re probably galls, unusual growths caused by tiny insects or mites. The plant responds to the irritation by producing the gall, which provides food and shelter for the developing insect.
They can look alarming, but most galls cause little significant harm to an otherwise healthy tree. In most cases, there’s no need to treat them.
The White Foam on Your Plants
That blob of frothy foam on a plant stem may look like someone spit on your garden. It is probably spittlebug foam.
The foam protects the immature insect, called a nymph, while it feeds on plant sap. It is unsightly but generally harmless to established plants. If it bothers you, a strong spray of water usually takes care of it.
Mushrooms Appearing Overnight
One day there’s nothing there. The next morning, mushrooms have seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
Actually, the fungus was there all along. The mushroom is simply the reproductive structure of the fungus, and warm, wet conditions can cause it to appear very quickly.
Most mushrooms in the landscape are not a problem for your plants. In fact, the underground fungal network is part of the decomposition process that returns nutrients to the soil. Unless you have children or pets who might eat them, there’s usually no reason to remove them.
The Mysterious Webs in the Trees
Late summer and early fall are prime time for noticing spider webs, especially large orb webs stretched between branches. They may look dramatic, but spiders are valuable garden residents. They’re catching many of the insects we’d rather not have eating our plants.
Before reaching for the broom, take a closer look. Your garden’s pest-control crew may be working for free.
Plants That Suddenly Look Like They’re Dying
September can also bring some confusing changes in familiar plants. Leaves may yellow, flowers may fade, and foliage can look downright exhausted after months of heat.
Not every ugly leaf signals a disease or pest problem. Sometimes a plant is simply finishing its season.
The September garden can be messy, mysterious and occasionally downright bizarre. That’s part of what makes this time of year so interesting.
So the next time you spot something strange, resist the urge to immediately remove it. Look closely, take a photograph, and see if you can figure out what’s happening first.
You might discover that the oddity in your garden isn’t a problem at all. It may be one more fascinating piece of the ecosystem working right under your nose.
