Something tells me summer might be over. Maybe it is the cost of holidays, maybe it is the number of schoolchildren now gathering in sweetshops or maybe it is the fact that the evenings are considerably chillier!
Plant growth will slow down now and given how wet some of the summer has been and just how many weeds exploded into life, that is probably not a bad thing. Whilst herbaceous plants have never looked better, bindweed, ground elder and docks have all followed suit.
When the opportunity arises, it is a good idea to spread mulch of some sort around the bases of trees and shrubs as well as on the beds. This will at least give you a head start against the weeds next year as well as helping keep in moisture and provide some nutrition if you use well rotted manure or compost.
One thing to be especially wary of at this time of year is an incredibly annoying and destructive insect called vine weevil. They make irregular notches on the edge of leaf margins and the grubs feed on root systems of herbaceous plants. Heuchera are especially vulnerable. Biological control is the most environmentally friendly way to address this problem: nematodes (impossibly tiny worms) can be bought online and applied as a saturated powder. Despite the apparent lack of action when applied, it is a very effective solution to a very trying problem.
When not partaking in insect wars and designing gardens in Hampshire, there are plenty of garden jobs to do in September:
• Beech and hornbeam can be given a light trim to keep them neat throughout the winter. As semi-evergreens they provide useful screening
• Deadheading will still produce results, especially with Dahlias that can look good until the first frosts.
• Be selective when cutting back your herbaceous plants: many of them will provide seeds for wildlife as well as being attractive in the winter frosts and sunlight
• Raking out the thatch from your lawn (scarifying) and using a fork or an aerator to spike your lawn will improve drainage and the quality of your lawn. Where there are bare patches, sowing seed over spread topsoil and feeding the lawn in spring will give a fresh, green appearance.
• Divide herbaceous perennials that have become too big for their spot: it is remarkable how many plants can be teased out of one large clump. Be generous and give some of it away: you are very likely to have the compliment returned.
• If you have a pond near a tree, it is worth placing a net over the water to catch the leaves when they descend in autumn
• Eke out the last colour in your pots and hanging baskets by trimming off the dead growth and feeding with liquid fertiliser.
If you need a bit of a “pick-me-up” then maybe think about ordering bulbs to be planted this autumn to come out in spring. Don’t hold back – if you buy daffodils in bulk for example, they as cheap as chips.
Too many plants in the garden? Nah, no such thing. If anyone complains you can ask them if they prefer weeding or enjoying the spectacle of borders bursting with life? No contest.