🌿 THIS MONTH IN THE GARDEN
September gardening jobs
As summer slowly gives way to autumn, September is a lovely month to spend a few hours in the garden.
The soil is still warm, there’s plenty of colour around and there’s lots we can do now to keep our gardens looking good through autumn — while getting a head start on next spring.
So, pop the kettle on, grab the gardening gloves and here are a few jobs worth tackling this month…
🌷 Start planting spring bulbs
Daffodils, crocuses and other spring-flowering bulbs can start going into the ground now. A little work this autumn could give you a fantastic display next spring.
🌸 Keep the colour coming
Don’t give up on the summer flowers just yet! Keep deadheading dahlias, roses and penstemons and many will continue flowering well into September. Hanging baskets and containers can also keep going with a little care.
✂️ Divide crowded perennials
September is a good time to divide established herbaceous perennials that have become overcrowded or aren’t flowering as well as they used to. Replant the healthiest sections — and you may even end up with a few spare plants to give to friends or neighbours.
🌱 Give the lawn some attention
After a summer of sunshine, children, pets and garden furniture, the lawn might be looking a little tired! Early autumn is a good time to repair bare patches, aerate compacted areas and generally give the grass some TLC. Keep the mower a little higher rather than scalping the lawn.
🍎 Enjoy the harvest
Apples and pears are coming into their own, along with autumn raspberries and plenty of home-grown vegetables. Potatoes should also be lifted before slugs get to them.
🥬 Keep the vegetable patch productive
Summer may be ending, but growing certainly isn’t. Spinach, winter lettuce, rocket and other salad leaves can still be sown for crops through the cooler months.
🌻 Collect some seeds for next year
On a dry day, collect ripe seeds from favourite annuals and perennials, dry them and store them in labelled paper envelopes ready for next year. But don’t tidy everything away — leaving some seedheads standing provides food and shelter for wildlife.
🐝 Leave a little space for wildlife
As we start tidying for autumn, resist making the garden too tidy. Leaving healthy perennial stems and seedheads standing over winter can provide valuable habitat, while a small log or bug hotel can give insects somewhere to shelter.
🌿 Our September tip
Don’t try to do everything in one weekend!
Choose two or three jobs, enjoy being outside and remember that gardening is supposed to be pleasurable. A cup of tea halfway through is compulsory. ☕😂
What jobs are you tackling in your garden this September?
We’d love to see your autumn gardens around Sutton Coldfield and Lichfield — pop a photo in the comments. 🌻🍂
This Month in the Garden — a new monthly feature from What’s On In Sutton Coldfield & Lichfield.
