The sun is setting earlier, and the dark nights are edging closer. Autumn is almost upon us, which means there’s plenty of work to do. Summer can feel like a pretty garden-heavy season, but it’s just as important to keep on top of things in September so you can enjoy colour and life in your outside space when spring arrives.
Take a look at Fothergill’s garden jobs for September and enjoy that little stretch of extra time in the soil before winter.
Tidy Up Borders
Although summer is still hanging on, it’s time to look ahead to next spring. Give your borders a refresh and clear away fading summer bedding.
If you’re not planting autumn-flowering bedding plants, such as chrysanthemum, clear up any weeds, add compost, and think about what you might want to plant for the following spring. Take a look at our ‘What to Grow in September in the UK’ blog for some inspiration on what could replace your summer blooms and liven up your growing space for spring.
Mixed borders can start to look unkempt this month as summer-performing perennials begin to wane. These plants should be cut down as they die back, restoring order and tidiness to displays. Use a knife, secateurs or shears to cut the spent stems and foliage down to the crown (base of the plant).
Mulching Your Borders
A layer of garden compost or similar material will help protect any remaining dormant crowns from winter damage. If the plant in question dies back fully, it can be fully covered with mulch. If it dies back to a basal rosette of leaves, these should be surrounded by mulch but left uncovered on top.
Any borderline hardy perennials, such as penstemon and salvia plants, should be mulched. However, their spent top growth should be left in place until spring as extra winter protection for the crowns below.
Patio Pots and Hanging Baskets
Summer hanging baskets & containers will continue to run into mid-autumn if you keep up with deadheading, watering and feeding. Even plants that are starting to struggle can be given another month or so of life by cutting them back and allowing new shoots to take over.
Unfortunately, there will come a time when plants will have given their all, so think about what to replace them with. Whether it’s polyanthus plants or pansy plants, bring colour to your autumn garden by freshening the soil and re-potting your hanging baskets and patio pots.
If you have pots that sit outside, it’s time to raise them off the ground using bricks or ‘pot feet’ to allow rain to drain off easily. This will also help prevent winter frosts from cracking your pots.
Harvest Autumn Produce
Autumn is a great time to harvest all of the produce you worked hard to grow throughout the sunny seasons.
- Pumpkins and Squash: Once their vines are cracked and withered, you can harvest them. Leave them somewhere dry and bright for a few days so their skins can harden off. Stored correctly, these could last well into next spring.
- Onions: Harvest any remaining onions now before the weather turns for the worse. Once lifted, shake off any loose soil and leave them to dry for one to two weeks in a dry, bright location outside or in a greenhouse. These can then be hung and stored to use when you’re ready.
- Courgettes and Marrows: You can start harvesting your courgettes and marrows, but expect them to continue producing up until October.
- Tomatoes: By now, most tomato plants will have exhausted themselves, so pick any remaining fruit and dispose of the plants. If you have green tomatoes, place them in a paper-lined shoe box with a ripe banana and keep them in a warm location. Check regularly and, once reddened, they’re good to go. Failing that, green tomatoes make an excellent chutney.
Cleaning Your Greenhouse
When the summer season ends, it’s time to clean your greenhouse, polytunnel, cold frames and grow houses. Dispose of old plants, and remove all pots and containers that could be hiding pests. Ensure all glass is cleaned with warm, soapy water. Additionally, clean the greenhouse floor, as potential pests and diseases may still be lurking.
If you’re planning to grow anything in the next few months, then your greenhouse will need as much light and warmth as possible. Pack away any shading you put up during the summer months. Carry out any maintenance needed, clean leaves from guttering (including downpipes and water butts), and test greenhouse heaters.
Which Plants Should I Bring Into The Greenhouse For Overwintering?
Towards the end of September, start to bring prized tender plants under the cover of the greenhouse to keep them frost-free through winter. Many summer bedding plants can be overwintered this way, leading to bigger and better displays the following year:
- Fuchsia plants
- Begonia plants
- Geranium plants
Water them sparingly until spring, but make sure they’re getting plenty of light.
Complete September Gardening Jobs with Fothergill’s
With the sun setting a little earlier each day, September is the crossroads month. We may still enjoy those warm days and orange-glow sunsets, but the nights are drawing in, and the temperatures are dropping.
In a few weeks, the warmer weather will be no more than a distant memory, and autumn will be snapping at our heels. Get prepared for autumn with Fothergill’s range of garden tools and essentials to keep on top of your garden jobs for September.
For more tips on September gardening jobs, take a look at our blog or get in touch to speak to one of our talented gardening experts!
