Garden Inspiration, Garden Tips and Ideas

September in the Garden: Tips for a Successful Autumn

Posted by

Ali Barwani

12 September 2024

On 12 September 2024

September in the Garden: Tips for a Successful Autumn

September days lack summer’s warmth. Although the forecast tells us that warmer temperatures will return next week, the lengthening evenings confirm that we must forget summer. For the moment my winter coat is still hanging on its hook by the door, where it has remained for the last five months. September doesn’t mean it’s time to hibernate. There are still plenty of jobs to do in the garden. It’s time to tackle some essential tasks to keep your garden thriving. From harvesting fruit and vegetables to planting spring bulbs, there’s plenty to do to prepare for the changing seasons. Let’s delve into some key September gardening jobs to ensure your garden is in top shape.

Harvesting Fruit and Vegetables

As summer comes to an end continue harvesting the fruits of your labour. From sweet tomatoes to juicy apples, make sure to pick your crops at their peak of ripeness. Check your plants regularly to ensure you don’t miss any ready-to-pick produce.

Protecting Leafy Vegetables

If you’re growing vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, and kale, make sure to protect them from peckish wood pigeons with bird-proof netting. Birds can quickly destroy your green vegetables so take preventative measures to ensure your harvest stays intact. Simply drape the netting over your plants, making sure to secure it in place to keep the birds at bay.

Plant Hardy Annuals

Looking to add some colour to your garden next summer? Now is the time to sow hardy annuals such as Scabiosa, Ammi, and cornflowers. These beautiful flowers will bring colour to your beds and borders next year. Simply follow the seed packet instructions for sowing and watch them grow.

Planting Camellias

Camellias are best planted in autumn while the soil is still warm. Planting shrubs now encourages the roots to establish before winter sets in. We will shortly be receiving a new collection of autumn flowering Camellia sasanqua plants at our garden centres. This variety produces flushes of flowers from October to December. I will be writing more about these lovely plants soon.

Sow Vegetable Seeds

September is a good time to plant many vegetable seeds directly into the warm soil. Suitable seeds include spinach, mizuna, pak-choi, winter salad mixes, autumn broad beans, and hardy peas. These cold-tolerant vegetables will help fill gaps in the beds and provide pickings in the cold months ahead.

Be sure to follow the planting guidelines on the back of the seed packet for each type of vegetable to ensure a successful harvest.

Divide Hardy Perennials

If your hardy perennials like Achillea are starting to look overcrowded, it’s time to divide congested clumps. Dividing hardy perennials not only helps to keep them healthy and promotes new growth but also allows you to propagate more plants for your garden. Simply dig up the plant, divide the clump into smaller sections, and replant in new locations.

Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs

Do you want early colour in your garden next year? Then plant spring flowering bulbs like crocuses and daffodils in the ground and in pots. These bulbs will remain dormant over the winter months and burst into bloom come spring. Follow the planting instructions on the packets for each type of bulb, ensuring they are planted at the correct depth and spacing for optimal growth.

Don’t treat bulb planting as a side quest, done generously it becomes the main event in spring. For example, last autumn Capital Gardens planted 50,000 Crocus tommasinianus ‘Whitewell Purple’ bulbs in the grass outside Alexandra Palace Garden Centre to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Alexandra Palace. The crocuses bloomed magnificently in February, and we are looking forward to seeing a carpet of purple flowers again early next year.

Plant up Autumn Containers

As the summer bedding begins to look tired, it’s time to empty and plant up your containers with autumnal and spring favourites. Consider adding heathers, cyclamen, and heucheras for flowers and foliage. Take a look at our UK grown ‘Tubs and Baskets’ range of competitively priced seasonal bedding plants.

Be on the lookout for vine weevil damage on potted plants and shrubs. If your plants show the tell-tale sign of notched leaf margins then you need to apply vine weevil control measures. This is a topic I will be addressing in a forthcoming blog.

Plant Wallflowers

For rich colour and sweet scent in spring, plant up your beds and containers with wallflowers in September. These hardy young plants will continue growing during autumn and into winter and be ready to provide a stunning display in spring. For that classic spring look, plant together with tulip bulbs at the same time.

In Conclusion

With these September gardening jobs in mind, you will be well on the path to having a successful autumn garden. From harvesting your crops to planting for the seasons ahead, there’s plenty to keep you busy in the garden this month. So, grab your gardening gloves and get to work – your garden will thank you for it!