After a rather wet August, I’ve got my fingers crossed for a warm, sunny September. However, I always find that as soon as schools go back, the weather suddenly starts to feel autumnal.
So with that back-to-school vibe in mind, here are your five gardening jobs for September.
1. Plant those Spring flowering bulbs you ordered last month.
Now’s a great time to get your crocuses, hyacinths, daffodils and bluebells into the ground for a welcome pop of colour in early spring.
I’ve got a whole post on bulb planting, but a quick rule of thumb is to plant in groups of odd numbers for a natural look. Bury each bulb at a depth three times its size. Then sit back and look forward to those green shoots peeping through the ground next year.
2. Divide perennials.
Once they’ve finished flowering, any congested clumps of perennials can be divided to give them space to thrive. Think agapanthus, hostas and ornamental grasses.
The added bonus is you’ll end up with extra plants to brighten up another corner of your garden, or to share with your neighbours.
3. Give your flowering climbers a prune?
After the exuberance of summer growth it’s only natural for your mind to turn to giving your garden a good tidy. Use that urge to gently trim back and tidy late flowering shrubs like jasmine, passionflower, and honeysuckle. You might trigger another show of flowers.
It’s also not too late to catch up on any August pruning you haven’t got to yet.
4. Prep your lawn for a wet Winter.
Yes, I’m afraid even wetter weather is on its way. To avoid a waterlogged lawn give it a good rake – or scarify – to get rid of any dead brown grass and moss. Focus on those well trodden areas that have started to compact and look worn. Then aerate the ground by going around spiking it with a garden fork. Hard work, but worth it.
5. Make the most of your garden whilst you still can!
That all sounds quite labour intensive! Don’t forget to make the most of those dwindling sunny days and the last of the longer evenings. Grab any final opportunities to drink your morning cuppa outside, enjoy an alfresco dinner, or to just sit in your favourite corner with a book. I’ll be doing the same!
Let me know how you get on, and if you have any questions email me renee@thegirlwhogardens.co.uk.
Or book a Garden Hoedown for an hour of one to one garden therapy and you’ll come away with a personalised action plan to get the most out of your garden!