Topical tips for September

It's been a rum ol' season. We've had the coldest winter in years, a late spring followed by early summer, unseasonal high temperatures and drought in this part of the country. Still, we can't complain; the fruit trees are groaning under the weight of ripening fruit, and the vegetable garden has been and is still supplying us with its bountiful produce. However, it's the turn of the year, when the sun begins to lose its heat and days are shortening as Mother Nature prepares for the Big Sleep.

Top tip 1: As autumn progresses and there is more rainfall, there is no better time to install a water butt or two, if you haven't done so already. You know it makes sense to conserve this precious commodity and use as much natural water as possible. There are several capacities of water butts available to suit all situations.

Top tip 2 : The start of autumn is also a good time to deal with troublesome weeds like bindweed, as energy from their leaves returns to the roots. Roundup , a weedkiller that works from the leaves to the roots is ideal for this job.

September is the perfect time to plant new trees, shrubs climbers and herbaceous perennials as well as biennials (wallflowers are a good example). There is enough moisture in the soil (hopefully); air temperatures are not too hot or cold, and the soil is warm. To make sure that your plants have a good start in your garden, a dose of Rootgrow (currently on offer at half price at £2.99 until stocks last), a mychorrizal fungi endorsed and used by the R.H.S. will see them on their way. (This is not recommended for both ericaceous plants and brassicas though).

The Bulb Season is in full swing with a full complement of bulbs available for sale right now. Be generous with quantities for real impact and plant in groups instead of in regimented lines (remember Wordsworth's ‘host of golden daffodils'?). In a flower bed, it would be possible to plant bulbs (even wholly from the family of Narcissi), that flower at different times, each group like a spotlight drawing the eye to a different part of the bed in succession.

Top tip 1 : Planting depth of bulbs should be at least twice the height of the bulb. Therefore, if a bulb is 2 inches tall (5 cm) the planting hole should be at least 6 inches (15 cm) deep.

Top tip 2 : The area under deciduous trees are the perfect place for planting early flowering bulbs that will have flowered, made growth and formed flowers for next year by the time the trees shade the area with their foliage and canopy. A selection can be made from early snowdrops , winter aconites (eranthis), early species crocuses (‘Snowbunting', ‘sieberi tricolour' for example), wood anemones, and bluebells (English of course) will give a succession of interest. Do plant in generous quantities for maximum impact and enrich the area with well-rotted compost and a handful of Bulb Booster.

Top tip 3 : It can be quite strenuous to plant bulbs in the ground individually with a trowel; a bulb planter makes it much easier. The model from Gardena is particularly suitable for those who have less strong hands. Yeoman has a long-handled bulb planter that saves on getting down on one's hands and knees.

Top tip 4 : Be sure to put some Bulb Booster in the hole where you are planting bulbs. It does what it says on the packet, and improves the quality of flowering.

Top tip 5 : If squirrels have been digging up newly planted bulbs, try mixing some cayenne pepper or chilli powder with your bulbs before planting them.

Most summer flowering bedding plants can be looking a little jaded towards the end of the month after what has been a difficult summer with so very little rain when it mattered. What a good opportunity then to take them out and refresh beds and containers with the new season's cyclamen, skimmias , or winter pansies. Do remember to plant bulbs into these containers at the same time for a really impressive and uplifting display in the spring. Select from early crocuses, followed by miniature narcissi of which Tete-a-tete is a perennial favourite standing at only 15 cm or 6 inches tall. Don't forget the Bulb Booster !

Herbaceous perennials that have finished flowering should be tidied up and cut down. This will reduce the incidence of pests and diseases.

Top tip 6 : Large overgrown clumps of herbaceous perennials can be divided at this time of year. This does actually rejuvenate the plant, so be brave and dig up the entire clump. Some can be separated by hand, by merely feeling around with the thumbs in the root area for a natural division. Others can be separated by either using two forks back to back to separate, or a sharp spade to cut through the clump. The type of roots will generally indicate which method to use; fibrous roots could use the thumbs or two-fork treatment and woody ones, a sharp spade.

Top tip7: Shrubs and trees should be given a couple of feeds of a high potash fertilizer to ripen their wood to withstand winter frosts. Use either Sulphate of Potash or Tomorite.

Fruit Trees

Fruit trees are now groaning under the weight of a bountiful crop. It is possible to net fruit to protect them from the attention of birds and squirrels by using a Crop Protection net (it also works as a leaf-catcher for ponds). As top fruit ripen, it is always the fruit at the top of the tree that are the biggest and best. That's where fruit-pickers come in very handy. Gardena and Wolf both have fruit-pickers in their combo (combination) range; this is an accessory well worth having.

Top tip 1 : Protect fruit trees from winter moths by wrapping Greasebands around the trunk. If the tree is old and has fissures in the bark of the trunk, an application of Fruit Tree Grease will do the same job. Make sure that every crevice in the selected position is applied with the grease. If aphids have a problem this year, begin giving a Winter Tar Wash to reduce over-wintering eggs of these pests.

Top tip 2 : If disease has been a problem this year (especially rust and mildew) be sure to gather up all the leaves as they fall and dispose of them (not composted). Give the trees a good drink, with a handful of Bone Meal and apply a thick mulch over the root area. Use either Mulch and Mix , home-made compost or clean, disease-free spent compost.

Lawns

After a summer of parched and brown lawns in this part of the country, it seems like a minor miracle that they have greened up again after just a few days of gentle rain. A case of having the ‘right rain', if ever there was one. This month is also the time to really service the lawn and prepare it for the winter. It is time to apply Evergreen Autumn Feed , one high in potash to strengthen cell walls to withstand winter frosts. This product also includes a Mosskiller which will kill and blacken moss before the lawn is scarified. (‘Scarification' is a word one comes across in gardening circles. All it means is that one uses a Springtine rake (the V-shaped one) and takes out dead grass and moss (treated by mosskiller) that have accumulated and thus reducing air and nutrients from reaching the roots). If the ground is workable, it is a good idea to aerate the lawn, particularly where moss is a problem. Use a garden fork, or a hollow-tine aerator if the problem is severe. To complete the job, brush in Lawn Dressing.

Lawns can also have repairs done either with turf or sowing of seeds at this time of year.

Top tip: Daddy Long Legs hatch into adults at this time of the year to mate and lay eggs in lawns. If you have been troubled by unaccountable patches of dead grass, chances are that leather jackets, the larvae of these pests, have been happily munching away at the roots of grass. A drench of Provado Lawn Grub Killer is advised to get rid of them.

Grow to Eat

The active growing season is drawing to a close from this month and growth is slowing down. One is conscious that there is less heat and intensity in the sun's rays and it is a rush to get tomatoes and squashes to ripen.

Top tip 1: Remove the leaves of these plants, so that the fruits are in as much sun as possible to ripen them.

The vegetable patch has worked hard this year bringing us its bountiful harvest. It is only right that it is refreshed and replenished with nutrients. Any spare area of fallow soil should be sown with Green Manure which has nitrogen-fixing plants. Dug into the soil after 9 to 12 week's growth, it provides nutrients and humus thus improving the soil's fertility and structure.

This month is good time to plant out overwintering onion, shallot sets and garlic for early crops next year. Select from the many varieties available for varying strengths of flavours. There is still time enough to be planting out over-wintering crops like broad beans ( Aquadulce Claudia is an old favourite), brassicas, and salad crops.

Top tip 2: As herbs like mint begin to lose their vigour outdoors, it is possible to pot up mint to grow indoors over the winter months. Fresh sowings of basil and coriander can be made too, to be grown on a sunny window sill, to prolong the growing season.

Top tip 3: It is time to get busy in the kitchen with the last of the glut of produce, Apart from the obvious freezing of produce, try making chutneys, or take a leaf out of our Eastern European neighbours' books and make sauerkraut-like preserve with cabbage, or pickled sliced runner beans with some chillies, for example, both excellent with cold meats during the winter months.

Wildlife

Adult birds have completed their annual moult and singing again to establish territories. Food is plentiful just now with berries, and windfall apples and pears available (as well as your prized raspberries, strawberries and figs!). As ever, a good source of fresh water daily is vital to their well-being.

Top tip1 : If you haven't done so already, used bird boxes should be cleaned out with a weak solution of disinfectant, ready for the next tenants. If the autumn is warm, some birds will begin looking for property well before the breeding season in spring. Include some dry twigs, or moss in the box to give them some encouragement, particularly if it is a new nest-box.

Top tip 2 : Ponds should be netted with Pond Protection Netting to prevent any leaves falling into the water. These leaves give off gases as they decay which could be harmful to fish.

Top tip 3: Urban foxes are on the increase and young cubs will be ready to find their own territories just now. If they are not wildlife that you welcome in the garden, make sure that holes in the fences, under greenhouses and decking are securely blocked up.

Bonsai

Indoor bonsai like Serissa and Ficus which have spent their summer outdoors can be taken indoors this month. Place them in a cool, light place. Others like Chinese Box, Japanese Holly, Pepper tree, and Chinese elm can be left out a little while longer, or treated as outdoor trees to live outdoors even in the winter ( to be protected in a hard winter). Other outdoor trees , mainly maples, conifers (metasequoia and ginkgo) should be fertilized with a high potash feed like Tomorite to ripen their wood and prepare them for winter.

Indoor Plants

Indoor plants that have spent their summer outdoors can be taken in this month. Some may have put on a lot of growth and may need potting on into a one-sized bigger pot. Watering needs to be adjusted as light levels decrease (even between outdoors and indoors) and less water is required. Cymbidium orchids placed outdoors for the summer will be completing growth of embryo buds just now and coming to the end of their active phase by the end of the month. Reduce watering gradually; they can be brought inside later into a cool but very light position. Other annual- flowering orchids are also coming to the end of their growing phase with their characteristic signs; please seek advice if you are unsure. Phalaenopsis however, don't have annual cycles!

September is one of the loveliest months of the year to be out and about in the countryside; there are still warm days to be enjoyed. There is a certain luminous quality about the light at this time of the year too; a soft and warm glow that picks out the reds and oranges of flowers in the garden. With harvest festivals, and a harvest moon, it is a time to be thankful for another good year in the garden.

By all these lovely tokens

September days are here

With summer's best of weather

And autumn's best of cheer.

Anon

Hortibug