September in the garden

As we move into autumn, all green fingered people tend to rub their hands together in glee as it is the best time to get out in your garden, tidy up, plant new plants and generally prepare for the show that is spring and summer. September in the garden is a fun time, here is a little reminder of some tasks that you may choose to do this month.

In the kitchen garden

Plant new strawberry plants to fruit next year.

Apply grease bands (available from our garden centre pest control section) to your fruit trees towards the end of this month. This deters moths.

Beware of carrot flies. Protect your crop with an insect mesh.

If you are growing a pumpkin for Halloween, to help them ripen evenly raise them up gently and rest on a bed of straw.

Sow your oriental leaves, parsley and winter radish.

If you haven’t already got them in, plant your Christmas potatoes now.

Sow green manure in vegetable beds that are being left to rest for the winter. This prevents weed growth and can be turned in for added nutrients when you need the bed.

Cut out the fruited old brown canes of berries (raspberries, blackberries etc) but leave new green canes to crop next year.

In the flower garden

Choose and buy your spring flowering bulbs now while you have maximum choice of varieties. Check the packet before planting as some varieties like tulips are best planted in November.

Aerate your lawn with a fork or specific aerator (available from our garden centres). Apply an autumn feed and weed treatment.

Net your pond to protect it from leaf fall, we’ve already done ours at our Sidmouth Road, Clyst St Mary Aquatic Centre.

Plant autumn flowering plants to fill colour gaps. Our nursery have some beautiful dianthus, cyclamen and sedums already in stock and chrysanthemums will be available towards the end of the month.

If you have a greenhouse and it is fairly empty, give it a good clean with disinfectant before putting any new crops in.

Our garden centres have all the items you need to make the most of your garden, whatever the month, so please come and visit us soon.