Garden Tips - September

Vegetables

This is the time of year when you reap the rewards from your labours of the previous six months or so.  

Potatoes will have died back their top growth by now so lift the tubers as soon as possible to reduce the damage from slugs which in the soil will become much more active now.  Once lifted, leave to dry for a few hours and then sort out the tubers to be kept for storing for winter use.  Any small or damaged tubers should be used immediately.  Store the Potatoes in trays or paper/hessian bags but never polythene ones, otherwise they will sweat and all the tubers will be lost.  Keep the tubers in a dark cool place but certainly away from any frost which will occur later on.

There is still time to sow Parsley, Spinach and Winter Radish if you act quickly. These will be ready for use in the winter and early spring. 

As Squashes and Pumpkins ripen raise them off the soil to avoid rotting during wet conditions.

Onions which have ripened should be stored in nets or trays in a well ventilated place for use later on.

Fruit and Fruit Trees

Apply barrier glue or grease bands to fruit tress towards the end of September to deter the Winter Moth.  The Winter Moth climbs up the tree at this time of year to lay its eggs in the crevices of the bark and in Spring will hatch out to give you the maggoty apples. 

New strawberry beds should be planted now for fruiting next year.  Avoid planting runners produced from old beds which will almost certainly be riddled with virus so just spreading it into the next generation.  Far better to buy new virus-free stock from a reliable supplier.

Flowers

Plant Daffodil bulbs from now on but avoid planting Tulips until November.  Many of the smaller bulbs are also best planted now.  The garden centres will be full of stock of all bulbs from now until the end of November. 

Dahlias, Begonias and Impatiens can continue to flower for at least another month in our rather favoured locality, especially if you regularly dead-head them.

Lawns

Kill and remove moss on lawns.  Scarify and aerate to improve the look of the lawn for next year. 

Ponds

At the end of the month it is a good time to net the pond in preparation for leaf fall.  If the leaves get into the water they will decay causing cloudy and poor water quality for next year and in severe cases reduce the oxygen level in the water to dangerously low levels and killing off the pond occupants especially if you have ornamental fish in it.

Trees/Shrubs

From this month through October is a good time to plant any new trees, shrubs or hardy herbaceous perennials which have been container grown.  These establish well at this time while the soil is relatively warm and moist.

Greenhouse

In the greenhouse reduce the amount of water plants are given and when water is needed do it early in the day so that excess moisture dries before nightfall.

Find helpful tips and advice submitted by members of the society on the monthly pages. 

Should you wish to share tips or advice then Lettuce Know.