As the summer draws to a close, it is a good time to think about giving the garden a tidy up and prepare for autumn. So get out your todo list and think about these gardening jobs for September.
Here are some ideas of what can make a big difference to your garden in September.
Divide congested perennials
When perennials have finished flowering is a good time to be lifting and dividing plants that have become congested. This will give them more space to grow and you get free plants in the process. There are many plants which this can help such as;
- Anthemis (Golden Marguerite)
- Coreopsis
- Hemerocallis (Daylily)
- Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy)
- Penstemon (Beardtongue)
- Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan)
Take cuttings
If you have established plants in your garden you may be able to take cuttings. This is also a great way to have a backup in case any of your half hardy perennials or tender shrubs don’t survive the winter.
You should take semi-ripe cuttings from this years growth. The base of the cutting should be woody but the tip should be soft.
Fushia is probably the most popular plant to take cuttings from in September however, there are many plants that lend themselves well to propagation with cuttings.
Here are some to look out for;
- Variegated Hebe
- Lavender (especially those recommended for containers)
- Pelargonium
- Verbena
Trim hedges
Nobody likes a monster hedge, so get your hedges on shape before the weather turns and you don’t want to leave the warmth of the central heating.
Apples and Pears
If you have apple or pear trees don’t forget to pick the last of the fruits before the wind brings down the last of your crop.
If you haven’t done the summer prune of your apple trees, this should be at the top of your list before there is a risk of frost. This is as simple as cutting back new shoots, three leaves from the main stem. Only cut the shoots that are more than 20cm (8in) long, as shorter shoots would generally end in fruit buds. This will give next years crop plenty of light and air circulation.
Did you dig for Britain?
If you got stuck into growing your own potatoes this year, you should be lifting your main crop now. If you have more than you can eat, you can store them in paper sacks somewhere cool, dark and well ventilated.
Still have green tomatoes on your outdoor plants? You can still get them to ripen by cutting off the trusses and bringing them indoors. Chillies can also be brought in and hung on wire or cotton in the warm to dry out.
To make sure your pumpkins are looking their best for halloween, you need to remove any leaves that are covering the fruit so that the sun can ripen the skin.
You can make the most of your veg patch by sowing hardy greens like pak choi mustard and kale to pick over the winter.
Spring clean, in Autumn?
Get your garden looking its best by giving everything a good clean and tidy, including checking water buts are ready for any heavy rain by checking downpipes and gutters, bird baths should be washed and disinfected and windfall apples should be collected before they can go rotten.
It is a good time to get on top of fallen leaves so they don’t block drains or cause accidents. You can make leaf mould by storing all your leaves in a chicken wire cage or even black bin bags.
Plan ahead
Why not take stock of what you have in your garden and decide what has thrived this year and given you a fantastic show and those areas which have let your garden down. Make the most of those rainy days and pour over the seed catalogues for some inspiration for the new season.