Tim's Gardening Tips

September in the Garden

Flower garden

• Keep containers well watered and give a liquid feed every two to four weeks.
• Plant daffodil bulbs this month and start planting other spring flowering bulbs.
• Deadhead repeat flowering perennials.
• Bring inside tender perennials such as Abutilion, Fuchsia and Pelargoniums.
• Hoe or hand weed regularly to control weeds.

Roses, shrubs, hedges & climbers

• Deadhead repeat flowering roses to encourage more flowers.
• Remove suckers from roses.
• Give evergreen hedges a final trim, such as privet, yew and Leyland cypress.
• Lightly trim lavender after flowering.

Trees

• Remove suckers from trees.
• Harvest apples and pears.

Lawns & meadows

• Reduce frequency of mowing and raise the height of the cut.
• Apply a high potassium autumn lawn feed.
• Give wildflower meadows a final cut before winter.

Ponds & water features

• Thin out submerged oxygenating plants.
• Net ponds to stop fallen leaves entering.
• Continue to remove blanket weed and duckweed.

Wildlife

• Keep birdbaths clean and topped up.
• Leave some seedheads standing to provide food and shelter for wildlife.

Out and About

• Visit the RHS Show at the Inner Temple in London on 11-13 September 2008.