Jobs to do in the garden
JOBS TO DO IN THE GARDEN THIS MONTH
(September 2021)
There’s still plenty to
be done this month – harvesting crops and tidying up - whilst enjoying
the last of the years’
warmth.
IN THE FLOWER GARDEN………
·
Herbaceous
perennials can be divided this month which will help keep your plants healthy
and vigorous and will multiply your stock;
·
Net your
ponds now before the autumn leaf drop gets underway which will help reduce the
amount of debris in the water;
·
You can
start planting your spring flowering bulbs now such as daffodils, crocus and
hyacinths for colour next year;
·
If the
plants in your greenhouse and cold frame are finished start clearing away any
dead leaves and rubbish and clean the glass before starting any autumn sowing;
·
Continue
to feed and dead-head your hanging baskets to prolong their growth and colour until
the first frosts;
·
Continue
dead-heading annuals and perennials to keep them looking good for a few more
weeks;
·
Continue
to water camellias and rhododendron during prolonged dry spells to help develop
next years’ flower buds.
IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN……..
·
Keep
harvesting crops. If you have a glut of fruit and veg try freezing, pickling
and storing so you can benefit from them later in the year;
·
Cut back
to ground level the foliage and stalks on your main crop potatoes to prevent
blight spores infecting the tubers in the ground. Spread out newly dug potatoes
to dry for a few hours before storing them in a cool dark place;
·
Help
pumpkins ripen in time for Halloween by removing any leaves that might be
shading the fruit and raise them off the ground to prevent rotting by carefully
placing them on a piece of wood or slate;
·
Keep your
French and runner beans well fed and watered to keep them producing. Continue
to harvest regularly to prevent them setting seed;
·
Once your
broads and peas have finished cut the plants away at ground level but leave the
roots as this will allow nitrogen to go back into the soil as they break down;
·
Pot up
some mint and parsley for your kitchen windowsill for fresh herbs throughout
the winter months;
·
If you
haven’t already done so, cover your brassicas with fine netting to prevent
birds taking your crops. It will also help keep the cabbage white butterfly off
them.
IN THE FRUIT GARDEN…….
·
Tidy up
your strawberry plants by removing any unwanted runners and dead leaves. Clear
away any used straw as well as this will harbour pests and diseases during the
winter;
·
Pick any
ripe apples. To test when they’re ready, gently lift them in the palm of your
hand or give a gentle pull; if they’re ready they will come away easily. If you
see any rotten fruit, remove them immediately as they will spread disease if
left on the tree;
·
Now is
the time to harvest plums. If you have more than you can use immediately,
freeze them by washing, halving and stone them, before open-freezing on a tray.
Once frozen, pack them into freezer bags;
·
Pick
blackberries (it looks like a good crop this year) and use straight away or
freeze some for use later on;
·
If you
haven’t already done it, cut back the fruited canes of your summer raspberries
leaving the new green canes for next years’ crop. Tie-in the new canes to
support wires;
·
Take
hardwood cuttings of currants and gooseberries now to increase your stock.
IN THE GREENHOUSE……
·
Water any
plants you have left in the greenhouse, early in the day so the greenhouse is
dry by the evening. Damp, cool nights can encourage botrytis;
·
Close
your greenhouse door and vents in late afternoon to keep the heat in overnight
which helps your plants crop for as long as possible;
·
Empty
pots and get rid of old compost and decaying plant material which can harbour
unwanted pests over the winter months.
LOOKING AFTER YOUR LAWN…….
·
If you’re
creating a new lawn from turf or seed now is the best time to do so as the
autumn weather is ideal for good lawn establishment;
·
Keep the
blades on your mower raised as grass growth begins to slow down this month;
·
Carry out
essential maintenance of your lawn to avoid waterlogging and compaction by
aerating with a garden fork and removing thatch from the surface with a rake.
Use a specialist lawn scarifier if you have a large area to cover;
·
Apply a
special top-dressing after carrying out maintenance following the instructions
on the packet carefully;
·
Feed your
lawn with an autumn fertiliser which is rich in potassium but low in nitrogen.
OTHER JOBS AROUND THE GARDEN AND OUTSIDE
AREAS……
·
If you
have clay soil improve the quality before it becomes too wet or frozen by
incorporating organic matter and/or horticultural grit;
·
Create
compost bins in preparation for all the autumn leaves and dead plant material
which will break down over the winter months;
·
Burn
diseased plant material or dispose of it in your green waste; don’t add it to
your compost bin as the spores may remain in the compost and re-infect your
plants when you use it;
·
Raise any
pots off the ground for the winter by using ‘pot feet’ to prevent waterlogging.
Protect any that are not completely frost-proof by either moving them into a
more sheltered position in your garden or by wrapping a piece of hessian around
them;
·
If you
don’t have any, install water butts to collect rain this autumn and winter.
Rain water is ideal for watering ericaceous plants such as blueberries,
rhododendron and camellias.
Well, Folks, that’s all
from me for this year. Next month we’re back to where I started.
Happy gardening!