September in the Garden – By Graham Mitchell.
It’s time to start planning those jobs in the garden for September. As summer begins to wind down, there’s still plenty to do to keep things looking good and to prepare for the seasons ahead.
Where did August go? One moment we were enjoying the hot days and then it was gone! However, the weather was a real problem for us gardeners this summer. The sudden hot spells and damaging winds were a real challenge. My home water-butts were empty, and I had to ferry water from my allotment in large containers for the more sensitive plants. I think it is time to rearrange my garden before next season. The red Japanese acers were particularly affected, and I will be moving them somewhere with a bit more protection. If you bring houseplants out for the summer, now is the time for them to move back in. They may need a bit of pruning, as they can put a lot of growth on in the few months they are outside.
The main task in September is to keep everything going for as long as possible. Feeding, watering and deadheading will help, keeping one eye on the weather forecast. We could be in for an Indian Summer or be subject to an early frost — only time will tell. As you deadhead, identify any seeds that you wish to keep. Make sure that they are ripe and store in a paper envelope to prevent mould. Label and store somewhere cool and dry. Slugs and snails like to munch through paper so avoid sheds and greenhouses.
If you still have green tomatoes on your plants, then just pull them up, roots and all, and hang them upside down in a light, dry place — you’ll find that they will soon ripen up. Depending on the variety, apples and pears will still be reaching harvesting time. A twist of an apple will tell you when it is ready. Don’t wait until pears reach that stage, as they will become woody. They need to be picked slightly unripe to be at their best and store well.
It is time to start thinking about next spring too. Hardy annuals can be sown, and wallflowers planted. Time to plant those spring bulbs as well — crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths and fritillaries can all go in, paying close attention to bulb planting depths. Wait a while to plant tulips though.
