It’s a key month for gardeners, so here are some of the most important September gardening jobs you might want to start doing.
Harvesting & storing
Pick any remaining summer veg, like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and beans. September is also a good time to harvest herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme, which you can then freeze or dry and use throughout the winter months. You can save any seeds from flowering plants and vegetables for next season too. Allow them to dry completely before storing in labelled envelopes or airtight containers.
Start harvesting top fruit such as apples and pears! Windfalls will tell you which apples are ready and taste texture should help you determine whether it’s time to start picking and collecting. The Victoria Plums in our orchard are ready now and very delicious!
Planting
September is also a good time to plant the last cool-season crops such as lettuce, spinach, kale, radishes, and carrots. These can be grown in cooler temperatures and harvested before winter.
Plant bulbs like tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths for a beautiful spring display and if you have overcrowded perennials, September is a good time to dig them up, divide them, and replant them.
Plant new trees and shrubs now, while the soil is still warm and moist, giving them time to establish before winter.
Pruning and tidying
Pruning is so important if you want your garden to grow back beautifully next spring. Cutting back your perennials and trimming dead and dying foliage will make your garden look tidier too!
Prune shrubs like lavender and hydrangeas to shape them and remove any dead or damaged stems. Pulling out and disposing of any plants that are showing signs of disease or pest infestations will also prevent them from overwintering. Continue deadheading your roses, dahlias, and other late-summer flowers to encourage any last summer blooms.
Raking season usually starts in September, so tidy as you go, picking up fallen leaves and using them for compost or mulch. Continue mowing your lawn, but raise the cutting height to help the grass withstand winter and apply an autumn lawn feed that’s rich in potassium.
Prep your soil
Weeds are still actively growing in September, so it’s worth taking the time to remove them before they drop seeds.
Adding some compost or manure to your garden beds will improve soil quality for next year’s planting and a layer of mulch around plants should help protect roots from the cold and help you keep weeds under control.
If you’re a ‘serious’ gardener who hasn’t done a soil test recently, it might also be worth doing one, so you can see if your soil needs some more specific TLC.
Give your garden tools some love
September is a good time to clean, sharpen, and oil those garden tools to prevent rust and damage and keep them in tip top condition. Make sure you store them in a dry place and they’ll last longer.
Draining the water from garden hoses will also help prevent them from freezing and cracking when we get some frost in the coming months.
Start planning!
Take notes on what grew well in your garden this year…and what didn’t! This way you can start planning what new stuff you might want to plant and when. We have lots of bulbs and seeds in stock but will always try and get anything you can’t find on our shelves.
Ask any of our team for gardening advice – and don’t forget to follow our socials for news and offers.
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