Spotlight Magazines Spotlight Magazine for Mansfield North Sept 2015 | Page 16

Spotlight Magazine

Garden View

September 23rd is a special date in the
gardening clander. The sun is directly
above the earth’s equator and day and
night are exactly the same length.

Because of this, September is a pivotal
month in the year: it heralds the end of
summer and the start of autumn. It’s also
a pivotal month in the garden. It’s a time of
endings but also a time for rejuvenation.
Summer plants fade and enter their
dormant period, while leaves take on
autumn hues: yet autumn crocuses push
up through the soil, while bushes and trees
are laden with fruit.
This dual aspect to September means that
on the one hand I find myself preparing my
garden for its long winter sleep, but on the
other I’m planning ahead for next spring.
So, while cutting down the perennials
which have finished flowering I’m also
checking to see if any have become too
big for the space they’re in.
If they have, I’ll divide them now, while the
soil is still warm, and move them to another
part of the garden, where they’ll flourish
when the new growing season begins next
year.
Likewise, I’m planning where any new trees
or shrubs will go. I’ll get them in during
September and they’ll be off to a flying start
come Spring.

transmogrify into rich, crumbly compost
and leaf-mould respectively. When dug into
my soil in early spring it will give my garden
a much needed shot of energy with which
to kick off the growing season.
The autumn equinox is the gardener’s
equivalent of the New Year. It’s a time to
reflect on the past season while resolving
to do even better in 2016
Autumn Lawn Care
Sweep the leaves. I put mine in a
perforated dustbin liner, in a dry spot
and wait for them to rot down.
Rake Use a wire rake to pull out all the
dead moss and thatch. I put everything
I collect into the compost bin
Spike lawn Push a garden fork right
through the lawn into the earth below
then rock it a little to open up the lawn’s
surface and allow air in.
Brush with top dressing This is
available from garden centres. Brush
it into the holes with a stiff broom.
To make your own top dressing, mix
3 parts top soil with one part peat
substitute and 6 parts sharp sand.
By Rachel Leverton

My garden is chock-full of
Spring bulbs already but
I can always find room for
some more. While I’m at it
I’ll be planting a few in pots
so I can be sure of a great
spring display on the patio.
Meanwhile I look upon all the
weeding, tidying and leafraking that I’m doing as an
investment in compostable
materials for my bin and
my l XY