SEPTEMBER AUTUMN GARDEN CLEAN UP
Category: Landscaping
Published: 12/09/2024
September is here and it's the perfect time to tidy up your garden in preparation for the beautiful autumn season. With the changing weather and temperatures, now is the ideal opportunity to clear out summer plants, prune shrubs, prepare the soil for autumn planting, and protect your garden from the upcoming frosts.
TOP JOBS TO DO THIS MONTH:
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Dividing perennials regularly will ensure healthy, vigorous plants that will continue to perform year after year. It also offers the opportunity to multiply your plants.
Harvest regularly, to get fruits at the peak of ripeness, when richly coloured, plump and easy to pull off. Pick on a dry day, so the berries aren’t wet.
Net ponds now before autumn leaf fall gets underway to reduce the amount of debris entering the water.
Clean out cold frames and greenhouses ahead of autumn sowing and growing.
Plant spring-flowering bulbs now, such as daffodils, crocus and hyacinths, for glorious colour next year.
Continue to feed and deadhead hanging basket and container annuals — they will often keep going until the first frosts.
Prune climbing roses and rambling roses once they've finished flowering (unless they are repeat-flowering varieties, in which case leave them until later in the year).
Keep camellias and rhododendrons well watered at this time of year to ensure that next year's buds develop well.
Water greenhouse plants early on in the day so the greenhouse is dry by the evening. Damp, cool nights can encourage botrytis.
Close greenhouse vents and doors late in the afternoon to help trap in heat overnight. This will ensure your plants crop for as long as possible.
Empty pots — old compost and decaying plant material can harbour unwanted pests over winter. Introduce new soil ready for autumn planting.
Clean out your greenhouse to reduce the risk of pests and diseases next year.
Remove shading from your greenhouse towards the end of the month so that plants get the maximum light available.
Carry out essential lawn maintenance to avoid waterlogging and compaction. Aerate your lawn with a garden fork, removing thatch from the surface with a rake and repairing dead patches. Use a specialist lawn scarifier if you have a large area to cover.
Maintain garden tools and equipment for year-round use. Proper upkeep of your gardening implements is essential for their longevity and efficiency. After a busy summer, and before they’re put to further use during the autumn tidy-up, ensure that all tools are thoroughly cleaned. Soil and plant residue can corrode metal parts, so remove any debris with a stiff brush. Sharpening blades on shears and secateurs will make future pruning tasks easier and cleaner, helping to prevent disease transmission between plants. Lubricate any moving components to keep them functioning smoothly. It’s also wise to assess the condition of handles on tools like spades and forks – repairing or replacing them if necessary to avoid accidents.
Feed your lawn with an autumn fertiliser which is rich in potassium and low in nitrogen.
Create compost bins in preparation for all the fallen leaves and dead plant material which you'll be collecting over the coming months. Autumn leaves make a great addition to compost bins and are ideal for making leaf mould.
Raise pots off the ground for the winter by using bricks or 'pot feet', to prevent waterlogging.
Blitz perennial weeds — they are more vulnerable to weed killers in the autumn. Use a selective glyphosate free formula to kill both the leaves and the roots.
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Install water butts to collect rain this autumn and winter. Rain water is great for watering ericaceous plants such as blueberries, rhododendrons and camellias.
Order spring-flowering bulbs, trees and shrubs now for planting this autumn.
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- Divide herbaceous perennials
Dividing perennials regularly will ensure healthy, vigorous plants that will continue to perform year after year. It also offers the opportunity to multiply your plants.
- Pick autumn raspberries
Harvest regularly, to get fruits at the peak of ripeness, when richly coloured, plump and easy to pull off. Pick on a dry day, so the berries aren’t wet.
- Net ponds now before autumn leaf fall gets underway to reduce the amount of debris entering the water.
- Clean out cold frames and greenhouses ahead of autumn sowing and growing.
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs now, such as daffodils, crocus and hyacinths, for glorious colour next year.
- Continue to feed and deadhead hanging basket and container annuals — they will often keep going until the first frosts.
- Prune climbing roses and rambling roses once they've finished flowering (unless they are repeat-flowering varieties, in which case leave them until later in the year).
- Keep camellias and rhododendrons well watered at this time of year to ensure that next year's buds develop well.
- Water greenhouse plants early on in the day so the greenhouse is dry by the evening. Damp, cool nights can encourage botrytis.
- Close greenhouse vents and doors late in the afternoon to help trap in heat overnight. This will ensure your plants crop for as long as possible.
- Empty pots — old compost and decaying plant material can harbour unwanted pests over winter.
- Clean out your greenhouse to reduce the risk of pests and diseases next year.
- Remove shading from your greenhouse towards the end of the month so that plants get the maximum light available.
- Carry out essential lawn maintenance to avoid waterlogging and compaction. Aerate your lawn with a garden fork, removing thatch from the surface with a rake and repairing dead patches. Use a specialist lawn scarifier if you have a large area to cover.
- Feed your lawn with an autumn fertiliser which is rich in potassium and low in nitrogen.
- Create compost bins in preparation for all the fallen leaves and dead plant material which you'll be collecting over the coming months. Autumn leaves make a great addition to compost bins and are ideal for making leaf mould.
- Raise pots off the ground for the winter by using bricks or 'pot feet', to prevent waterlogging.
- Blitz perennial weeds — they are more vulnerable to weed killers in the autumn. Use a selective glyphosate free formula to kill both the leaves and the roots.
- Install water butts to collect rain this autumn and winter. Rain water is great for watering ericaceous plants such as blueberries, rhododendrons and camellias.
- Order spring-flowering bulbs, trees and shrubs now for planting this autumn.
1.
Divide herbaceous perennials
Dividing perennials regularly will ensure
healthy, vigorous plants that will continue to perform year after year. It also
offers the opportunity to multiply your plants.
2.
Pick autumn raspberries
Harvest regularly, to get fruits at the
peak of ripeness, when richly coloured, plump and easy to pull off. Pick on a
dry day, so the berries aren’t wet.
3.
Net ponds now before autumn leaf fall gets
underway to reduce the amount of debris entering the water.
4.
Clean out cold frames and greenhouses ahead of
autumn sowing and growing.
5.
Plant spring-flowering bulbs now, such as
daffodils, crocus and hyacinths, for glorious colour next year.
6.
Continue to feed and deadhead hanging basket and
container annuals — they will often keep going until the first frosts.
7.
Prune climbing roses and rambling roses once
they've finished flowering (unless they are repeat-flowering varieties, in
which case leave them until later in the year).
8.
Keep camellias and rhododendrons well watered at
this time of year to ensure that next year's buds develop well.
9.
Water greenhouse plants early on in the day so
the greenhouse is dry by the evening. Damp, cool nights can encourage botrytis.
10.
Close greenhouse vents and doors late in the
afternoon to help trap in heat overnight. This will ensure your plants crop for
as long as possible.
11.
Empty pots — old compost and decaying plant
material can harbour unwanted pests over winter.
12.
Clean out your greenhouse to reduce the risk of
pests and diseases next year.
13.
Remove shading from your greenhouse towards the
end of the month so that plants get the maximum light available.
14.
Carry out essential lawn maintenance to avoid
waterlogging and compaction. Aerate your lawn with a garden fork, removing
thatch from the surface with a rake and repairing dead patches. Use a
specialist lawn scarifier if you have a large area to cover.
15.
Feed your lawn with an autumn fertiliser which
is rich in potassium and low in nitrogen.
16.
Create compost bins in preparation for all the
fallen leaves and dead plant material which you'll be collecting over the
coming months. Autumn leaves make a great addition to compost bins and are
ideal for making leaf mould.
17.
Raise pots off the ground for the winter by
using bricks or 'pot feet', to prevent waterlogging.
18.
Blitz perennial weeds — they are more vulnerable
to weed killers in the autumn. Use a selective glyphosate free formula to kill
both the leaves and the roots.
19.
Install water butts to collect rain this autumn
and winter. Rain water is great for watering ericaceous plants such as
blueberries, rhododendrons and camellias.
20.
Order spring-flowering bulbs, trees and shrubs
now for planting this autumn.Divide herbaceous perennials
Dividing perennials regularly will ensure healthy, vigorous plants that will continue to perform year after year. It also offers the opportunity to multiply your plants.
- Pick autumn raspberries
Harvest regularly, to get fruits at the peak of ripeness, when richly coloured, plump and easy to pull off. Pick on a dry day, so the berries aren’t wet.
- Net ponds now before autumn leaf fall gets underway to reduce the amount of debris entering the water.
- Clean out cold frames and greenhouses ahead of autumn sowing and growing.
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs now, such as daffodils, crocus and hyacinths, for glorious colour next year.
- Continue to feed and deadhead hanging basket and container annuals — they will often keep going until the first frosts.
- Prune climbing roses and rambling roses once they've finished flowering (unless they are repeat-flowering varieties, in which case leave them until later in the year).
- Keep camellias and rhododendrons well watered at this time of year to ensure that next year's buds develop well.
- Water greenhouse plants early on in the day so the greenhouse is dry by the evening. Damp, cool nights can encourage botrytis.
- Close greenhouse vents and doors late in the afternoon to help trap in heat overnight. This will ensure your plants crop for as long as possible.
- Empty pots — old compost and decaying plant material can harbour unwanted pests over winter.
- Clean out your greenhouse to reduce the risk of pests and diseases next year.
- Remove shading from your greenhouse towards the end of the month so that plants get the maximum light available.
- Carry out essential lawn maintenance to avoid waterlogging and compaction. Aerate your lawn with a garden fork, removing thatch from the surface with a rake and repairing dead patches. Use a specialist lawn scarifier if you have a large area to cover.
- Feed your lawn with an autumn fertiliser which is rich in potassium and low in nitrogen.
- Create compost bins in preparation for all the fallen leaves and dead plant material which you'll be collecting over the coming months. Autumn leaves make a great addition to compost bins and are ideal for making leaf mould.
- Raise pots off the ground for the winter by using bricks or 'pot feet', to prevent waterlogging.
- Blitz perennial weeds — they are more vulnerable to weed killers in the autumn. Use a selective glyphosate free formula to kill both the leaves and the roots.
- Install water butts to collect rain this autumn and winter. Rain water is great for watering ericaceous plants such as blueberries, rhododendrons and camellias.
- Order spring-flowering bulbs, trees and shrubs now for planting this autumn.1.
Divide herbaceous perennials
Dividing perennials regularly will ensure
healthy, vigorous plants that will continue to perform year after year. It also
offers the opportunity to multiply your plants.
2.
Pick autumn raspberries
Harvest regularly, to get fruits at the
peak of ripeness, when richly coloured, plump and easy to pull off. Pick on a
dry day, so the berries aren’t wet.
3.
Net ponds now before autumn leaf fall gets
underway to reduce the amount of debris entering the water.
4.
Clean out cold frames and greenhouses ahead of
autumn sowing and growing.
5.
Plant spring-flowering bulbs now, such as
daffodils, crocus and hyacinths, for glorious colour next year.
6.
Continue to feed and deadhead hanging basket and
container annuals — they will often keep going until the first frosts.
7.
Prune climbing roses and rambling roses once
they've finished flowering (unless they are repeat-flowering varieties, in
which case leave them until later in the year).
8.
Keep camellias and rhododendrons well watered at
this time of year to ensure that next year's buds develop well.
9.
Water greenhouse plants early on in the day so
the greenhouse is dry by the evening. Damp, cool nights can encourage botrytis.
10.
Close greenhouse vents and doors late in the
afternoon to help trap in heat overnight. This will ensure your plants crop for
as long as possible.
11.
Empty pots — old compost and decaying plant
material can harbour unwanted pests over winter.
12.
Clean out your greenhouse to reduce the risk of
pests and diseases next year.
13.
Remove shading from your greenhouse towards the
end of the month so that plants get the maximum light available.
14.
Carry out essential lawn maintenance to avoid
waterlogging and compaction. Aerate your lawn with a garden fork, removing
thatch from the surface with a rake and repairing dead patches. Use a
specialist lawn scarifier if you have a large area to cover.
15.
Feed your lawn with an autumn fertiliser which
is rich in potassium and low in nitrogen.
16.
Create compost bins in preparation for all the
fallen leaves and dead plant material which you'll be collecting over the
coming months. Autumn leaves make a great addition to compost bins and are
ideal for making leaf mould.
17.
Raise pots off the ground for the winter by
using bricks or 'pot feet', to prevent waterlogging.
18.
Blitz perennial weeds — they are more vulnerable
to weed killers in the autumn. Use a selective glyphosate free formula to kill
both the leaves and the roots.
19.
Install water butts to collect rain this autumn
and winter. Rain water is great for watering ericaceous plants such as
blueberries, rhododendrons and camellias.
20.
Order spring-flowering bulbs, trees and shrubs
now for planting this autumn.