September 20 25

JOBS IN THE GARDEN FOR SEPTEMBER

Flowers:    Keep Azaleas and Rhododendron well watered as bud initiation is now taking place

and watering if conditions are dry will ensure a good amount of flowers next Spring. Plant

new hardy herbaceous perennial plants now and divide established clumps. This job, if done

now, will enable the plants to get established before the onset of winter with cold and wet soil

conditions.

Stop feeding hardy plants now. Clear away spent summer bedding plants. Prepare soil ready

for winter bedding plants and plant up spring bulbs except Tulips which should be left for

another six weeks.

Hardy Annuals can be sown now, such as Calendula Officinalis to over-winter to give earlier

flowers next year.

Plant prepared Hyacinths for Christmas flowering in bowls or pots using multi-purpose

compost or bulb fibre. Keep in a cool dark place until the buds can be quite easily seen.

Vegetables Plant out Spring Cabbage as soon as possible if not already done. Plant Onion

set varieties, which are suitable for over-wintering. Harvest maincrop Potatoes for storing for

winter use. Only store sound tubers, any which are showing any signs of damage should be

used immediately.

Fruit:  Speed ripen outdoor grown Tomatoes by layering plants on straw and cover with cloches.

Alternatively hang upside down in a cool shed after removing all the leaves. Continue to pick Autumn Raspberries as they become available. Also continue to

harvest Apples and Pear as they ripen. Black scabby marks, distortion and cracking on

Apples and Pears is a sure sign of scab disease. Make a note now to spray trees while in the

dormant stage next December or January.

Lawns:  Autumn maintenance of the lawn can start this month by scarifying, aerating and re-

sowing bare patches. Now is an ideal time to sow grass seed or lay turf for new lawns if soil

conditions are moist.

Pests and Diseases : Clumps of honey coloured toadstools at the base of shrubs and trees is a

possible sign of Honey Fungus disease.

Orange raised pustules on leaves is a sign of Rust disease which is very prevalent this year.

Remember to rake up and dispose of all leaves to prevent infection from over wintering ready

to re-infect plants next year. Do not compost any diseased plant material.

TOPICAL TIPS

Net ponds before leaf fall to prevent a build-up of decaying matter in the pond over the

coming months.

Clean bird baths and feeding stations with mild disinfectant to help control the spread of

diseases. Migration will soon be taking place and many of the birds which have been

resident for the summer months will disappear and the winter visitors will make a return to

mingle with our native resident all year round birds.

ST ALDHELMS FLOWER SHOW Saturday 13 September 2025

This show was revived in 2022 after a lapse of 50 years. It is being organized by David

Bassil from Branksome who was one of the original supporters of the show all those years

ago.

The show will be organized entirely towards the funds for St Aldhems Church as it has been

in previous years.

There will be many opportunities to enter flowers, vegetables and fruit together with flower

arrangements, cookery, handicrafts and children’s entries. Copies of the complete schedule

of classes can be obtained from David at 31 Princess Road, Branksome, Tel: 01202 752014

or email at dcbassil04@gmail.com They will also be available on the table at the back of the

church.

It is hoped that many of you will be able to support this event with entries.

We will also be looking for volunteers to assist with making the teas, donating cakes or

biscuits for this show. Can you and your friends have a Handicraft stall, a Book stall or Cake

stall to raise funds for the church? Again help in donating items and manning stalls would be

much appreciated. Please let David Bassil know if you are able to help in any way,