September in the Garden
September is here and we find ourselves in the realms of autumn with the summer coming to an end and the sights of the gardener is to prepare the garden for winter.
There is much to do in the garden through September, including:
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs now, such as daffodils, crocus and hyacinths, for glorious colour next year. New stock being displayed in the nursery now.
- Continue to feed and deadhead hanging basket and container annuals — they will often keep going until the first frosts.
Autumn lawn care
- Best done through September but can be done in to October.
- Rake your lawn (Scarifying).
- To remove thatch (dead grass and moss), rake vigorously but carefully with a spring-tined rake.
- Aerating (or spiking).
- Using a digging fork, aerator or hollow tine tool aerate the lawns which allows better movement of air and water in the root zone. A well-aerated lawn will manage better in periods of drought or waterlogging.
- Small areas can be spiked with a garden fork, spacing holes 10-15cm (4-6in) apart and deep. On clay or waterlogged soils use a hollow-tine aerator every three to four years. This extracts plugs of soil from the lawn.
- Top-dressing is the application of loam, sand and well-rotted organic matter to a lawn in order to correct surface irregularities (a bumpy surface) and improve the texture of heavy soils. The top dressing fills the holes created by aeration. This process encourages better rooting and thicker grass.
- Ask in the nurseries for further advice on any subject to do with your garden.
Thinking ahead to the new growing season (spring 2024) maybe consider creating a sustainable garden with these expert tips on eco-friendly gardening methods that will benefit your garden, wildlife and your budget.
Gardening in a sustainable way is also more economical as it involves using recycled materials, reducing the use of natural resources, and requires less maintenance. Anyone who has a garden, whatever its size, can take steps to transform their space into a sustainable garden buzzing with life.
So if you’re looking for creative garden ideas, try some of these simple ways to make an eco-friendly garden that’s both sustainable and a haven for wildlife.
Sustainable garden ideas
Having an eco-friendly approach to gardening involves putting nature at the forefront of your gardening practices. Below is a few ideas sustainable garden ideas you can adopt to make your back garden just that little bit greener.
One of the important ways that gardeners can create a sustainable garden is to avoid pristine lawns and leave them to grow longer. Maybe try ‘no mow may’ to encourage wildlife.
With water shortages and longer periods of droughts being a possible result of climate change, perfectly manicured lawns could become a thing of the past with a move towards eco-friendly gardens.
Dry gardens feature plants that are happy in dry, sunny conditions, such as those you would use if you’re looking into how to plan a Mediterranean garden. These feature everything from woody, fragrant herbs to olive trees and need little water to flourish.
Planting many different species of native plants in your garden, with a focus on flowers rich in pollen and nectar, such as flowers that attract bees, will help to increase biodiversity. It will also help to reverse the falling numbers of bees, butterflies and moths, which are vital to the eco system and therefore all of us.