September is a great month for most UK gardeners thanks to some of the best weather conditions that we get in the UK.
There is always something to do in the garden and September is no different. Autumn is on the way and you will need to prepare for that. Whether is general tidying up, planting and harversting, or just getting ready for a deluge of falling leaves, there is no doubt that you are going to be busy.
It's good to have an all year diary for your gardening and we have listed your September jobs below, just to give you a bit of a helping hand.
The UK Flower Garden
As I have said, September is a busy month and this is especially true for flowers. This will be your last chance to divide any herbaceous perennials or take any cuttings that you might want. I would also have a good look round all of my flowers and dead head any roses or other flowers that are past their best. Just a general tidy up.
Now is the time for planting any bulbs that you want for the Spring or maybe even to be out at christmas. I would normally start this mid-September, at the latest, to make sure they are planted in good time. You should also collect and sow seeds from perennials and hardy annuals.
You need to remember to keep up with watering of new plants and normally around this time I would start to reduce the frequency of houseplant watering.
The Vegetable Garden
There is plenty to be getting on with in the vegatable patch too. Remember to dig up the last of your potatoes before slugs get their "hands" on them. If you have any onions then these will need to be harvested too.
This is a good time for birds to feed so you should cover any leafy vegetable crops with bird-proof netting to keep them well protected.
September is really a harvest time, but it's also good to plan ahead and start sowing the vegetables that will be ready for winter and earlier spring harvest. You can easily plant the following in September. Onions, Garlic, Spinach, Broad beans, Peas and apsaragus, so that should keep you busy.
If you have a greenhouse then that opens up a lot more options and I would definitely be thinking about a full range of lettuce, cress and possibly some mustard.
The Fruit Garden
Again this is pretty much just passed harvest time so you should pick any last autumn raspberries or other caned fruits you might have left. Apples and pears are maybe ready for picking at this time too, especially the early ones.
Now is also the best time to give your fruit trees a good pruning. You have probably been pruning away all summer but this is the last to give them a last go before the winter. Apple trees in particular need their pruning finished now to encourage good fruiting in the future.
Other Garden Jobs
Clean out cold frames and greenhouses so that they are ready for use in the autumn. There are actually loads of things to do in the greenhouse, if you have one. Really you want to be getting it ready for winter by closing up any air vents that you have, removing any shading from the windows and planting some of the less hardy bulbs.
If you have a pond you might want to get it netted before all the leaves start to fall. This is also a good time to take a bit of extra care with your lawn. You can remove moss from lawns, aerate by spiking with a garden fork, and re-seed any bare patches that have appeared.
There is a lot to do at this time of year as you will be busy tidying up leaves for the next while.
September Garden Summary
There is always plenty to do in the garden and this time of year can be particularly busy. WInter is coming, so a lot of your work is preparing for this. This will include pruning, planting and general tidying up of all the jobs you need done before the winter sets in.
If you are lucky enough to have a greenhouse then this will let you enjoy your garden that little bit longer.
