Why September Is the Month to Reset Your Food Forest

Today was one of those days in the food forest where my energy just did not match my to-do list. Yes, I actually make checklists. When you are managing dozens of plants and trees it is too easy to forget what needs attention or put things off until later. Weekly to-dos keep me grounded and on track most of the time.

This morning the list said: weed, prune, and fertilize the citrus. Simple enough. But after about thirty minutes of pulling weeds in ninety-degree heat with thick humidity, I was done. Thankfully, I have an amazing wife who does not just cheer from the sidelines. She stepped in and finished the job. Teamwork is the only way a food forest like ours keeps moving forward.

That got me thinking. Why were there so many weeds in the first place? The answer was obvious once I looked closer: mulch. Our last ChipDrop load came in spring. Since then Florida has thrown everything at it: heavy rains, blazing heat, and endless humidity. What started as three to four inches of coverage had thinned out to one or two, patchy at best. No wonder weeds were taking over.

That was my reminder: September is mulch season.

Every September I focus on the same five tasks.

1. Mulch to lock in moisture, block weeds, and keep the soil alive.
2. Prune to clean up growth and give plants airflow before the cooler months.
3. Stake young trees that still need support heading into hurricane season.
4. Fertilize to recharge the soil after summer’s punishing heat.
5. Air layer select trees to multiply what is already thriving.

This rhythm has become part of the annual cycle. When I stick to it the food forest thanks me with a strong fall season and a thriving start to the new year. When I skip it I spend months playing catch-up.

If you are in Florida, or anywhere else that feels like summer is a heavyweight fighter who never knows when to quit, take this as your reminder. September is not just about surviving the heat. It is about setting the stage for abundance.