Gardening Jobs to Complete This Month – September
September tends to be cooler and windier than August, and the days quickly start getting shorter. There are different jobs to do in the garden every month – so what are the main jobs to complete during the month of September?
Gardening expert Fiona Jenkins at MyJobQuote.co.uk has created this list of gardening jobs to complete this month. Read on to find out more.
Divide Herbaceous Perennials
The summer sun warms the soil, and as autumn comes, the rain will dampen the soil. Between the months of September and November, you should try to make the most of these perfect conditions, prioritising your perennials.
Perennials can be moved, planted, and divided at this time. It’s best to do this on an overcast day with very little wind so the sun and wind won’t dry out the roots of the plants. When moving and planting, make a large hole that can contain all of the roots. However, the hole should be no deeper than the root ball itself. Fertilise the plants in their new positions as this will help to feed the roots, keeping them in the best condition.
Deadhead Your Plants
Deadheading plants will help to keep your garden looking at its best. You may not get many of your summer blooms repeating their flowering at this time. However, removing any dead flowerheads from your plants will help to ensure your garden stays looking neat and tidy. Deadheading flowers is also great for the plants as it can keep them healthy. This will allow the plants to save their energy for the healthy parts of the plant.
Deadheading is quite simple. You simply need to pinch the plant underneath the dead flower and then pull the dead flower away from the plant. When doing so, wear gloves to protect your hands.
Net Ponds Before The Leaves Fall
Netting is very useful for catching falling leaves and preventing them from collecting and sinking to the bottom of your pond. If this does happen, you may find that they create a decaying, sludgy layer at the bottom of your pond.
Before adding netting to your pond, you should cut back any dead and dying plants to ensure your pond is neat and tidy. Plus, this will also prevent old or dead plant materials from falling into the pond and decomposing in the water. If this happens, the plants will absorb oxygen from the water and release toxic gasses. When cutting plants back, avoid reducing their stems below the water line, as this will cause them to rot and will eventually kill the plant.
Rake Any Fallen Leaves
During September, you will notice leaves will start to fall from the trees in abundance. You will need to rake up these fallen leaves and remove them from the grass. Fallen leaves can block sunlight and cause yellow patches on your lawn. Plus, they can also harbour a range of pests and diseases.
With this in mind, whenever you start to see leaves accumulating in your garden, get the rake out and get rid of them. You should also brush any leaves off your decking, as a collection of leaves on your decking could cause the wood to start to rot and may affect the structural integrity of your deck.
Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs
From now until the middle of November, you can start planting your spring flowering plants. With the right planning, your spring bulbs will start to flourish early next year and will continue to bloom through to late summer.
When you plant your new bulbs, keep in mind that the spring plants will require plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Use peat-free compost and add some good fertiliser to make sure your plants thrive. Also, make sure there is plenty of drainage to prevent your bulbs from becoming waterlogged during the winter months.
Prepare Your Garden For Stormy Weather
Autumn is now here, which means the weather will soon be turning. During this time of year, it's normal to expect the weather to take a turn for the worse and storms could be on the agenda over the coming weeks. Now is the time to start preparing your garden for the bad weather.
You will need to stake new plants and check on older ones regularly to ensure they're not becoming weak or damaged. Climbing plants need to be properly tied to supports and trellises. Make sure your garden fences are stable, as strong winds can be disastrous. It may be necessary to think about reinforcing your fence panels at this time.
Heavy rain can cause a whole host of issues, including waterlogging. Now is the time to make sure there is optimum drainage to prevent your plants from becoming over-watered with rain.
Take Good Care of Your Lawn
Although your lawn will stop growing as quickly, this doesn't mean that you should neglect it. In addition to raking the leaves from your lawn, it's also important to aerate the lawn to ensure that the drainage is good enough for your lawn to survive through the winter months.
Aeration involves perforating the soil underneath your lawn with small holes. This helps with water infiltration and root growth. This is very beneficial during the autumn months as it can help to prepare your lawn for the winter. Aeration will help to ensure your lawn comes back vibrant and healthy when spring comes back around.
Provide your lawn with some extra care and attention by feeding it with a lawn fertiliser. A good fertiliser will ensure the roots remain strong and healthy over winter.
Add Some Mulch to Protect Plants
During this time, the temperature will start to drop, meaning now is a good time to protect your border plants with mulching. It’s best to apply this when the soil is damp. Just make sure you pull out any weeds first.
Mulch will help to prevent the soil from drying out, protect the roots of your plants from frost, and will also improve the texture of the soil. Around two inches of mulch works best for most plants.
Harvest or Plant Fruit Trees
If you want to achieve a gorgeous spring blossom, now is the time to plant fruit trees. Fruit bushes such as blackcurrants and raspberries can be planted now, and you will be rewarded with an abundance of beautiful summer fruits. If you don't have much space in your garden for fruit plants, you can grow some varieties in pots.
If you already have some established fruit trees in your garden, you can harvest the fruit now and enjoy the rich, fresh flavours of the season. Apples and pears should be perfect for harvesting at this time.
Plant Now Ready For Christmas
We've already mentioned that you should be planting spring-flowering plants now. However, now is also a great time for preparing indoor plants that will flower in time for Christmas. There are several plants to choose from, and you can grow these for yourself, or you can give them as gifts. If you're planning on giving away your homegrown Christmas plants as gifts, you will also have the pleasure of choosing and decorating a pot. That way, you can create a personalised gift for the ones you love.
Some of the best plants that you can sow now ready for Christmas include hippeastrum, poinsettia, hyacinths, narcissi, orchids, and cyclamen.
Start Collecting Seeds
Now is the perfect time to collect seeds ready for use next year. Carefully shake or scrape out seeds from seed heads and store them in a packet in a dry area of your home. A sealed tin is a great place for storing collected seeds. It’s important to avoid moisture when it comes to seeds. They must be kept in a cool, dry place. A garage is a brilliant place for storing seeds. For extra protection against moisture, consider adding some rice to the storage container. The rice will absorb water and protect your seeds.
Seeds can be costly, so collecting seeds is definitely worth a try. If you’ve never collected seeds before, some good starter plants include calendula, viola, nasturtiums, rocket, Cerinthe major, beans, and cornflower.
Prune Evergreen Hedges
Evergreen hedges can become quite overgrown during the summer months. Pruning these plants in winter can invite diseases, so it’s best to get this job completed now before the weather becomes too cold.
On a dry day, give your hedges a good pruning to help them keep their shape. If you're a fan of inviting wildlife into your garden, consider placing any trimmed branches in a small pile in the corner of your garden. This could be the perfect space for any hibernating creatures.
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