This Month ... In the Garden
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This Month ... In the Garden
SEPTEMBER
BY DAN STEVENS , SENIOR PLANT MANAGER AT MILLBROOK GARDEN CENTRES
© Puck Milder / Unsplash
Lawn care
As we move into early autumn it is best to begin mowing less frequently and to raise the height of the cutting blade too . This has two main benefits , it allows the grass to better withstand the last of the summer ’ s hot weather and also makes it better withstand being walked on in the wetter weather to come . Apply an autumn lawn feed which is higher in phosphorus to aid root growth and make the lawn stronger . Avoid using summer lawn feed as this will be nitrogen-heavy and encourage lush leafy growth that will be vulnerable to disease and colder weather .
Plant perennials
September is an ideal month to plant new perennials . The soil is still warm and the weather usually takes care of the watering , too . Planting perennials is very easy to do , make sure to prepare the soil well by removing any weeds and add in some organic matter , peat-free multi-purpose is great for this ! Then simply dig a hole that is deep and wide enough to set the rootball into . Firm the plant in using your hands and always water it in well even if rain is forecast as this sets the soil in around the roots .
Vegetable sowing
September is a great month to sow hardy broad beans and peas for early crops next spring . Broad beans are especially hardy and will germinate in low temperatures . Aquadulce is a very good choice for autumn sowing and they are often better because they do not suffer from blackfly infestations in the way spring sown batches will . Plant somewhere sheltered and sunny and add plenty of well-rotted farm manure or peat-free multi-purpose compost . Plant in a zig-zag pattern with each seed about eight inches apart , broad beans are large plants and need plenty of space .
Check your roses
Black spot is the worst of the rose diseases . As we move into autumn , it is worth inspecting your roses and picking off any leaves that are infected . The leaves should be destroyed ; do not put them into a compost heap as the fungus will survive there and can then be spread around the garden again at a later date . As with many plant problems , prevention is much more effective than a cure and this is especially true with black spot . Always mulch around your roses in early spring and begin spraying with a suitable fungicide once the leaves begin to appear . The spores are often on the soil surface and wet weather splashes them onto the lower leaves of the plant beginning the infection . Spraying the soil underneath your roses when treating them is therefore also good practice . Spores are also blown around in the wind however , so vigilance and good feeding and watering regimes will help keep your roses in top condition .
Plant spring bulbs
September is the month for planting daffodils , crocuses and hyacinths . Always plant as soon as possible after purchase as the condition of bulbs will slowly deteriorate over time . Try to plant in groups of at least five and preferably more to create a really impressive show . Bulbs should be planted at three times their depth . This may seem quite deep but this prevents them from being damaged by any remaining hot weather and also protects the early growth from cold damage later on , if in doubt , plant a little deeper . Last but not least , plant them with the pointed end facing upwards .
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