Gold is definitely already the colour of the season for me!
Last weekend I visited Chelsea Flower Show and not only did pals of mine win several gold medals with the outstanding Psalm 23 sanctuary garden, but the flavour of the show and the plant highlights had a golden glow.
As we enter autumn and hopefully enjoy the last of the summer wine, we can expect to be treated to those days of startling blue skies bringing out the oranges, golds and reds of the season. These are days to be savoured.
When you are not leaning on your rake sipping a cuppa as you stare at the falling leaves(highly recommended), some of the jobs to be done this month are:
• Pruning roses to prevent damage during the windy, winter months. As a rough rule of thumb, prune shrub and bush roses back by about a third. Climbers and ramblers can be thinned by about a third too.
• Plant trees and shrubs once the wet and the cold are really here.
• With the longer summers, bulbs such as daffodils and crocus can be planted: remember to plant them deep enough (ideally, 3 x their bulb size).
• Get your compost area primed and ready for the autumn: make sure you have a waterproof cover as this will help retain the heat. Old carpet or sheets are ideal. If you can have your compost heap on soil rather than a hard surface, you will give access to those all-important worms.
• Harvest your fruit but bear in mind that if you don’t remove all the protecting netting, you will allow birds to feed off those pesky pests.
• Cut back the perennials that have died down, but again, think about leaving plants that have seeds for the winter birdlife.
• This is the best time of year for lawn repairs as the soil is still warm and the amount of rainfall is increasing. For the best results, undertake the three main jobs of scarifying, aerating and applying topsoil.
• Pots and containers can easily become waterlogged in winter. By taking them off their saucers and by giving them “feet” to keep them off the ground, you will ensure good drainage.
There was something of a sense of triumph at this year’s Chelsea: the show was able to go ahead despite the postponement from spring due to you-know-what and all the blood sweat and tears paid off. There was something of a sense of celebration that we were able to get out, get together and get it together.
Surely that is worth its weight in gold …and long may it continue!