Gardens become mellow, velvety and overblown; slightly frayed around the edges but still glorious.
This September feels a little different. Indeed, If I look back at photographs of previous years, the garden and allotment are ahead by about a month. Don’t be too quick to ‘winterise’ your garden, as wildlife will benefit from a degree of disarray. Order bare-rooted plants for delivery from November onwards.
Enjoy the breathtaking autumn light; cool, misty mornings leading to bright days; watching butterflies and dragonflies; eating homegrown produce. Check them for pests, including slugs and snails hiding beneath pots – you won’t want these making trails across your shag pile! If you’re in doubt, spray them with bug control spray before reuniting them with their plant pals.
You may need to do a little bit of juggling to ensure each plant gets the optimal amount of light. This is not something to be concerned about – simply remove the leaves and compost them. If you haven’t already nipped out the growing point, do so now; any new trusses that develop are unlikely to ripen.
Rarely are we ready to plant spring-flowering bulbs immediately after they’re delivered or purchased at the garden centre? Remove lower leaves to improve air circulation around the base of vulnerable plants such as dahlias and Michaelmas daisies. Next year they’ll start flowering earlier than spring sowings, perhaps in May or June. Nature can be very generous so don’t be afraid to thin seedlings out so that there are 20-30cm between each one.
If you live in colder regions of the U.K., prepare to lift and store tender plants such as bananas, begonias, angel’s trumpets Brugmansia, cannas and pelargoniums. Practically speaking it can be challenging to find space in borders until other plants have died down, but in lawns and meadows, you should be able to get cracking provided the soil is not too hard and dry. If the grass is brown, don’t worry too much, as it will green up again after a few downpours. However, if it’s developed bare, scuffed patches, you will need to re-seed once the ground is evenly moist. Lower light levels reduce the rate at which fruit ripens, and unsettled weather may result in blemishes or damage. Harvest your fruit and vegetables in their prime, freezing, preserving or pickling them when you have too much. If you don’t have anything to take their place immediately, sow green manure.
Apples are ready for picking when they sit in the palm of your hand and come away with a slight twist. I am grateful that these prolific creatures don’t cause me anxiety because they stage a complete takeover every autumn, inside and out. In the garden, they create much mischief by crisscrossing every path and doorway with their invisible webs. This summer’s drought is likely to result in a scarcity of seeds, nuts and berries so be prepared to supplement birds’ natural food sources until spring.
In some situations, ivy Hedera helix can be considered a nuisance, but wildlife adores it. In its shrubby form, ivy produces sputnik-shaped flower heads that bees and hoverflies love so much you can often hear the plant before seeing it. Put out dishes of water and meat-based pet food if they’re visiting your garden. If you spot a late-born hoglet that’s too small to hibernate, contact your local hedgehog rescue for advice.
Frogs, toads and newts are starting to look for shelter in compost heaps, log piles or at the bottom of ponds. Stop deadheading roses if you wish the hips to develop.
Material for composting will mount up rapidly during autumn. If you have space in your greenhouse, consider moving a compost bin inside to generate a small amount of background heat as the contents decompose.
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Categories: Bulbs, chrysanthemums, Container gardening, Dahlias, Flowers, Foliage, Fruit and Veg, Garden Diary, House Plants, How To, Perennials, Plants, Practical Advice, Trees and Shrubs, Weather
Posted by The Frustrated Gardener
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One comment On Your Garden In September,
