Gardening Jobs in September

Blimey, it’s already September? How quickly the year flies by when you're enjoying time in the garden! Summer may be winding down, but September is a crucial month for gardeners, with lots to do to prepare for the cooler months ahead and ensure your garden flourishes next spring. So, put the kettle on, grab a biscuit, and read on for my top tips on what gardening tasks are most important this September!

Indoor Gardening/Houseplants

  • Tidy Up: Clear away any dead or dying leaves from your houseplants. It’s a good time to encourage fresh growth by giving them a mild feed.
  • Pest Watch: As the indoor heating kicks in, keep an eye on your plants for pests that may be moving indoors. Catching them early will prevent damage.
  • Adjust Watering: Reduce the amount of water you give your indoor plants. As the days grow shorter, many plants require less moisture to stay healthy.
  • Humidity Boost: Combat the drying effects of indoor heating by misting your houseplants or using a humidity tray to keep them happy.

Outdoor Gardening

  • Deadheading and Pruning: Deadhead any late-summer flowers to encourage a last flush of blooms. Prune back any overgrown shrubs and summer-flowering plants to keep them in shape.
  • Autumn Planting: September is the ideal time to plant perennials, shrubs, and trees. The soil is still warm enough for roots to establish before winter.
  • Mulching: Apply a fresh layer of mulch to your garden beds to conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature as the weather cools.
  • Weeding: Stay on top of weeds now before they set seed and create a bigger problem for next year.

Shrubs and Trees

  • Planting: Get your shrubs and trees in the ground now. Autumn is an excellent time for planting as they can establish strong roots before winter.
  • Pruning: Trim back any summer-flowering shrubs, and if needed, give your roses a light prune, removing any diseased or damaged stems.
  • Feeding: Apply a slow-release fertiliser to help your shrubs store up energy for the colder months.

Vegetable Patch

  • Harvest Time: Gather the last of your summer crops like tomatoes, beans, and courgettes. Keep harvesting regularly to encourage the final growth spurt.
  • Sow Green Manure: Green manures like clover or mustard can be sown now to enrich the soil for next year’s crops. They help protect and nourish your veg beds over winter.
  • Winter Veggies: Start sowing hardy vegetables such as winter lettuce, spinach, and kale for harvesting through the colder months.
  • Garlic and Onions: September is the perfect time to plant garlic and overwintering onion sets. These will grow steadily through winter and be ready for harvest next year.

Lawns

  • Last Mow: As we move into autumn, reduce mowing frequency. Cut the grass a little higher now to help protect it through the cooler months.
  • Scarifying and Aerating: Give your lawn some TLC by scarifying to remove moss and thatch. Aerating will improve drainage and reduce compaction, helping it thrive next spring.
  • Feed: Apply an autumn lawn fertiliser rich in potassium to strengthen the roots and prepare the grass for winter.

Ponds

  • Debris Removal: Scoop out fallen leaves and other debris to prevent them from decaying and releasing harmful nutrients into the water.
  • Fish Feeding: Reduce feeding of pond fish as water temperatures drop. Their metabolism slows, and they will need less food.
  • Netting: Consider netting your pond to keep falling leaves out during autumn.

Patio Gardening

  • Container Plants: Move tender plants in pots to a sheltered spot or into the greenhouse to protect them from the first frosts.
  • Plant Autumn Bedding: Refresh containers and hanging baskets with autumn-flowering plants like pansies, violas, and heathers to keep colour in your garden.
  • Furniture Care: Clean and store away garden furniture, or cover it to protect from the elements over winter.

Greenhouse Gardening

  • Deep Clean: Give your greenhouse a thorough clean to prevent the build-up of pests and diseases over winter. Remove any plant debris and disinfect surfaces.
  • Sow Winter Greens: Plant crops like winter lettuce, spinach, and radishes for harvesting through the colder months.
  • Ventilation: Even as temperatures drop, ensure your greenhouse has adequate ventilation to prevent humidity from becoming too high, which can encourage disease.

Fruit Garden

  • Harvest Fruit: September is peak harvest time for apples, pears, plums, and autumn raspberries. Keep an eye on ripeness and harvest regularly.
  • Pruning: Tidy up your fruit bushes and trees, removing any dead, diseased, or overcrowded branches. After harvesting, prune back summer-fruiting raspberries and tie in new canes.
  • Netting: Protect ripening fruits from birds by using nets, but be sure to remove them after harvest to avoid harming wildlife.

Wildlife Care

  • Bird Feeders: Refill your bird feeders regularly as natural food sources start to diminish. Also, clean them out to avoid the spread of disease.
  • Hedgehog Homes: Create a welcoming environment for wildlife by leaving a corner of your garden wild. You could also provide hedgehogs with a shelter for their winter hibernation.

September is a busy month in the garden as you prepare for the autumn and winter seasons. A bit of effort now will pay off with a healthier garden and a beautiful display next year! So roll up those sleeves, get stuck in, and enjoy these golden days in the garden.