September seasonal tasks

September can be a funny month weather wise in the UK, you may notice the late summer days are becoming shorter, but the warmth usually hangs around for a few weeks before autumn comes in towards the end of the month, so, while the dry weather lasts there are still a few tasks you can carry out in the garden:

Flowers

Believe it or not now is the time to start planting your spring-flowering bulbs, most garden centres will have them available to buy – think daffodils, snowdrops and tulips which are easy to grow.

Continue to deadhead plants such as dahlias, delphiniums, roses and penstemons, they should provide colour well into the month but keep an eye out for any pest or disease presence such as white rust, eelworm or powdery mildew, especially if September is dry and warm.

Plant your hanging baskets

Don’t neglect your current hanging baskets either, just a little deadheading, watering and feeding will keep them going until mid-autumn

Thinking ahead, now and October is a good time to plant your winter hanging baskets and if the plants are hardy if won’t matter if it’s frosty. Choose hardy plants such as dwarf evergreen shrubs, conifers, heuchera, ornamental grasses, heathers, violas and pansies and mix up the colours and textures for best effect.

Vegetable garden

If you have a fruit or vegetable patch, you’ll be busy reaping the rewards of harvest with many vegetables coming into season such as runner beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, cabbages, cauliflowers, lettuces, marrows and courgettes, cucumbers, beetroot, turnips, carrots, and potatoes.

This month is also the time to plan-ahead and sow vegetables that will provide you with a winter and spring harvest such as leafy crops, autumn onions and broad beans.

Finally don’t forget  ….

Ponds

Cover the ponds with netting to stop leaves falling in, too much debris can encourage algae growth and weeds, which can harm the fish by eventually reducing oxygen levels. Remember to top up water levels when required and remove overgrown pond weeds, you can find some helpful advice on the RHS website, click here to take a read.