September - Gardening Calendar

GARDENING CALENDAR – SEPTEMBER

September heralds the coming of autumn as the nights start to draw in.

We will be stocking all sorts of fresh new plants including wallflowers, cyclamen, chrysanthemums, conifers and heathers. There's plenty of autumn colour including pansies and violas. It's time to consider throwing out any tired hanging baskets and planters and refresh with new displays.

Our seed suppliers replenish their racks in September so look out for some new lines.

Packs of winter vegetables – like cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, broad beans, etc – will now be available for outdoor planting.

Towards the end of the month we take delivery of our new tree stock. Autumn is the best time for planting trees as it allows time for them to make some root development before winter, so they are then ready to flourish in spring. If you have any particular tree requests please ask us as we may be able to add them to our delivery.

If you are starting to feel a bit chilly at night, remember we have logs, coal and kindling.

Planting

Wallflowers, pansies and viola plants can be planted now.

Plant spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, crocus, hyacinths and tulips.

Plant new trees and shrubs while the soil is still warm from summer.

Plant up window boxes with ivy, pansies, cyclamen, hebe and polyanthus.

Things to do in the garden

Continue dead-heading flowers or harvest ripe seeds if required.

Lift and dry onions and shallots.

Continue to feed hanging baskets to encourage the best from them until the end of the summer.

Prepare soil for seed or new turf.

Raise the cutting height of lawnmowers as the weather grows cooler.

Treat your lawn with an autumn feed like EverGreen® Autumn.

Continue spraying roses susceptible to mildew or black spot with a fungicide like Roseclear or Multirose or pick off diseased leaves.

Cut down summer-flowering hardy perennials.

Wash shading paint off greenhouses to allow in more sunlight.

Clean out your greenhouse. For a deep clean, fumigate it to kill off any pests and diseases. Cold frames can be given a good clean too, ready for use again.

Apply a thick bark mulch to new shrubs and trees.

Wrap grease bands around trunks of fruit trees to catch female winter moths.

Cover brassica plants to protect them from birds. Remember to keep netting taught to avoid trapping birds.