The mornings now have a fresh feel to them, but overnight temperatures are still staying above 10 degrees. It really does feel as though we are coming to the end of the summer now, but there’s plenty to be doing in the garden this month; below are some hints and tips put together by Chairman and horticulturist John Richardson.
1)The first 10 days of September is the last time to be taking cuttings of tender perennials such as pelargoniums and fuchsias. Roots will form much quicker before the cooler weather sets in. It is better to take cuttings at this late stage to root them round the edge of a pot and leave them in the pot until transplanting next spring. Alternatively, bring the old plants under cover in a cool but frost-free room and take cuttings early next year.
2)Have you ever thought of buying a greenhouse? Now is a good time to buy at a discounted price, with the whole winter to erect it and have it ship-shape for the start of next spring.
3)Time to check bigger trees around the garden; September can be a windy month and well worth the knowledge that boughs are not likely to come crashing down on the house, the garden and the new greenhouse in the winter sales.
4) If you have time to spare on the weekend, take a notebook around the garden and note those plants which are happy in their location, are growing too big, have the wrong colour combination with neighbouring plants, or really need more space. It will make your winter sort-out in the garden much easier.
5) Planting new shrubs in autumn has the benefit of warm soil to get the plants established before winter and the soil is usually moist; delay bare-root tree planting until November and be sure to install a stake at the time of planting. Always put the stake on the windward side and secure it with a proper tree time.
6) September is a good month to plant spring-flowering bulbs, but leave tulips until November, as this will help prevent the fungal disease ‘tulip fire’. If you find mice digging up your crocus bulbs, cover them with fine chicken wire, which won’t affect grass mowing but should dissuade mice.
7)If you have heavy soil, dig over the garden borders later this month as the bedding plants need to be removed. This will make digging easier as the soil will not be at full water capacity as in later months.
8) Crocosmias form large mounds of roots and corms over the years, separate them with 2 forks by pulling them apart, or remove the soil and untangle them with the help of a hosepipe jet.
9) Continue to trim fast-growing hedging, and don’t overlook the weeds in the hedge bottoms.
10)Newly planted perennials will do well when planted over the next 6 weeks. Give the roots of new plants a good soaking before planting, and firm in well to the original depth and place a good mulch around the plant to prevent moisture loss and winter frost damage to young roots.
11) During this month and next, the lawn can be cut less frequently but will really benefit from mechanical scarifying or the regular use of a spring tine rake to remove the old ‘thatch’. Aerating the lawn by means of a machine or a garden fork will work wonders, in conjunction with a specific lawn weed-killer and an autumn lawn fertilizer dressing.
Posted 16th Sep 3:27pm
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While many herbaceous plants have been and gone there’s still a few in flower during early autumn from Anemone to Geranium, add to your next project for late summer-early autumn colour.
Flowers: August – October (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)
Soil: Moist, fertile, humus-rich soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)
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Flowers: July – October (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 1m (depending on the variety)
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L. 3L
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Flowers: August – October (depends on the variety)
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 0.9m (depending on variety)
Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L
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Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L
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Flowers: July – October
Position: Full sun- partial shade
Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)
Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability).
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Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun- partial shade
Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)
Soil: Any moist soil
Pot size: 2l (depending on variety and subject to availability)
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Flowers: August – October (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 0.8m (depending on variety)
Soil: Moderately fertile, preferably heavy but well-drained soil
Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)
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Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)
Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil
Pot size: 2l, 3L,5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)
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Flowers: August – November (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)
Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil
Pot size: 2l, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)
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Posted 16th Sep 2:39pm
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In need of some autumn interest for your October projects? check out some of our favourites below from Cornus to Rhus.
Flowers: June – October (depending on the variety)
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 1.5m (depending on the variety)
Soil: Well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L + (subject to availability)
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Flowers: June-October
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)
Soil: Fertile, moist well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L (depending on variety and subject to availability)
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Flowers: June-October (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)
Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)
Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)
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Flowers: May – October
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Height: Up to 1m depending on the variety
Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)
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A bushy dense deciduous shrub with green leaves that turn to shades of strawberry red during autumn.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Height: Up to 2m
Width: Up to 3m
Soil: well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L ( subject to availability)
Dark green leaves turn to a spectacular blazing scarlet colour during autumn and its summer flowers are replaced with orange-pink winged fruit which remains long after leaves have fallen.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Height: Up to3m
Width: Up to 2.5m
Soil: well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L ( subject to availability)
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Known for its striking violet, bead-like berries that appear in autumn and remain after the plant has lost its leaves.
Position: Sun or dappled shade
Height: Up to3m
Width: Up to 2.5m
Soil: well-drained soil
Pot size: 3L, 10L ( subject to availability)
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Cornus are known for their coloured stems that are revealed when their leaves fall. Shades of red, yellow and orange stems are available.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Height: Up to 3m (depending on the variety)
Width: Up to 2m (depending on the variety)
Soil: moderately fertile soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L ( subject to availability and the variety)
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An upright evergreen shrub with dark leaves and spiny branches. Vibrant yellow, red, and orange berries can be seen in autumn when little else is providing interest.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Flowers: May
Height: Up to 3m (depending on the variety)
Width: Up to 3m (depending on the variety)
Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L, 3LD, 5L, 10L, 20L + ( subject to availability and the variety)
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Berries appear on varieties such as ‘horizontalis’ and ‘Coral Beauty’ during the autumn period, in late spring- early summer they are filled with small creamy white flowers.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Flowers: May-June (depending on variety)
Height: Up to 2m (depending on the variety)
Width: Up to 1.5m (depending on the variety)
Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
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Nandinas provide autumn interest when leaves turn shades of fiery red and copper.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Flowers: July (depending on variety)
Height: Up to 2m (depending on the variety)
Width: Up to 1.5m (depending on the variety)
Soil: moist, well-drained soil
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Bunches of bright red fruits are visible in autumn and three-lobed, dark green leaves turn to striking shades of red before falling.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Flowers: May – June (depending on variety)
Height: Up to 5m (depending on the variety)
Width: Up to 5m (depending on the variety)
Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil
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An upright deciduous shrub or small tree with dark green leaves that turn to shades of orange-red in autumn before they fall.
Position: Full sun
Flowers: June – August (depending on variety)
Height: Up to 5m (depending on the variety)
Width: Up to 6m (depending on the variety)
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
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Attractive dark red flower buds are produced in autumn and will be visible on the plant until spring when they burst into flower.
Position: Partial Shade
Flowers: April – May
Height: Up to 1.5m
Width: Up to 1.5m
Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained acid or ericaceous soil
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Position: Full Sun
Flowers: March – April
Height: Up to 10m
Width: Up to 10m
Soil: Moist, well-drained soil
Posted 15th Sep 10:52am
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