Gardening by Month - September
It’s been a long, dry summer and now we’re easing towards autumn, enjoy cooler days in the garden, as it’s still warm when the sun is shining. Introduce some seasonal colour with the yellow-orange rudbeckia. It’s a cottage garden favourite and likes space to spread out. The aster, or Michaelmas daisy is another lovely choice, in shades of pink through to dark purple.
Sedums are good for the front of your borders, with deep purple leaves and red flowers.
The wallflower is a sun worshipper, so plant in full sun, sheltered from strong winds. It’s very easy to grow and prefers well-drained soil.
Choose your favourite bulbs from the wide selection at Garsons. Snowdrops are one of the first to shoot up in the winter. Hyacinths are always a favourite. Indoor varieties can be planted now to flower at Christmas, and they make lovely presents.
Our Plants of the Month are shrubs. If you’re planting shrubs this month, add interest by under-planting them with bulbs and plants that love shade or semi-shade.
Our poor lawns were parched over the dry summer, so help yours bounce back. Scarify with a rake to remove dead grass and moss, then aerate with a garden fork so air can circulate to the roots and water will drain more freely. Apply an autumn treatment to boost root growth. In doing so, your lawn is prepared for winter.
Other jobs for September:
- Get on top of weeding and tidying the garden this month, before it turns chillier. It’s not much of a chore if the sun is shining.
- Prune blackberry bushes and flowering climbers.
- Raspberry bushes can be cut down to just above the ground.
- If you have a greenhouse, once tomatoes and other crops are over, give it a good clean to prevent pests from spending the winter there.
- Swallows and house martins will start flying south for the winter so help them on their way by keeping birdbaths and feeders topped up.
Make the most of your garden during September. Until next month, happy gardening!
