SEPTEMBER: Well August wasn’t all that bad was it! September is by no means a dull month for us gardeners and your garden can look pretty amazing this month and on in to the next with a little bit of TLC.
Flower Garden
This is a good time of year to plant new perennials, especially towards the end of September, as the soil is still warm, but moisture levels are increasing. There is still time for them to establish before the real cold sets in. Give bedding displays, hanging baskets and pots a little attention to ensure their display lasts well into autumn. Pick over plants twice a week to remove any faded blooms, keep watering daily and control pests when you find them. Any tender plants you want to save for next year can also be potted this month, so they are established and ready to bring under cover when the weather turns cooler. Put plant supports around tall, late-flowering perennials to prevent them from being damaged by autumn winds.
Create a striking feature in your borders by using some plants that look good during the autumn months. One of the best plants to choose is Sedum Spectabile ‘Brilliant’ which produces masses of flat, bright pink flower-heads on upright stems with succulent, glaucous leaves. Grow Sedums in full sun in a well-drained soil and divide every few years to improve flowering. Other plants which are also good at this time of year include ornamental grasses, Heleniums and perennial Asters, Michaelmas Daisies. Deadhead roses as the blooms fade, cutting off the flowers just above the uppermost leaf on the stem.
Trim back lavender bushes after flowering to remove the old blooms and shoot tips, taking care not to cut back too heavily into any old wood. Removing faded flowers from perennials and annual plants will also ensure a continued display of blooms.
Plant up patio pots or borders with Erysimum, more commonly known as wallflowers, for a cheery spring show. Although they can be grown on their own, try planting tall-growing Tulip bulbs in a contrasting colour first and planting the wallflowers over the top. The tulips will then grow up through them to provide an extra layer of height and colour. Buy or order spring-flowering bulbs. Try to plant daffodils (Narcissus) by mid-September for the best results. Tulips are best left until November. Remember that there are many other bulbs to choose from: Muscari (Grape Hyacinths), Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), Scilla, Ipheion and crocuses are all possibilities among many others.
Kitchen Garden
Regularly pick crops so that they are always tender and fresh. Never leave crops for too long before picking them, especially beans and courgettes. Crops to sow this month include: lettuce and salad leaves, Chinese cabbage, endive, winter spinach, turnips for their green tops, and final sowings of spring cabbage. If you haven’t already trimmed your hedges then this is a must this month. Lawns are slowing down but should still be mowed regularly but just on a higher setting. Now is also a good time to think about the design of your garden and how it’s working for you. Did you think that it worked well over the summer or does any of it need tweaking? . If this all sounds like hard work, or you haven’t got the time but you like the idea for a beautiful outside space then contact us and we can talk about your ideas. Happy gardening but don’t work too hard!
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