Mzzz B's September Garden Blog

When nature wants to take over.

Salvias and asrers

Aster and roses

Ornamental Grass-=Calamagrostis

Cyclamen hederafolium

Cyclamen in the shade

This is what happens when you go away for two weeks, you have to fight through the jungle to get to the door!
The season has changed from summer to autumn in that time, a time in the garden when there are other plants that shine- the aster, ornamental grasses, and the wonderful cyclamen hederafolium. This can grow in the deepest shade, disappear all summer, then flower into the winter followed by beautifully marked leaves.
There are plenty of jobs at this time of the year, although with all the rain it is probably best to stay off waterlogged clay soil until it dries out a bit. If you can't wait put down something to stand on so you dont compress the soil even more.

Jobs for September

Plant out biennials

Divide and replant perennials to ease congested areas., to move plants to areas where there is space, or pot up for the Garden Society annual plant sale in May!

Sow hardy annuals for early flowering next year like marigolds, cornflowers, poppies,,love in the mist/nigella

Collect and dry seed

Prune climbing /rambling roses once they have finished flowering, remove fallen leaves from the base to reduce black spot. Don't put them in the compost.
Start planting new perennials, trees and shrubs as the soil is still warm.

If you still have tomatoes continue to feed them until the fruits have finished growing and ripening.

Keep an eye on brassicas for butterfly eggs and caterpillars- covering them in fine mesh seems the only way to stop them getting shredded!

Sow Swiss chard, winter spinach, and you could try broad beans and hardy peas, I am not sure whether it is worth it as if we have a bad winter they suffer, and I have found an early sowing of broad beans in a greenhouse, if you have one, is another way to get an early crop.

Direct sow a row of rocket. It seems late to still be sowing seed, but salad rocket does not bat an eyelid at the cold or wet.

Sow coriander now and you may be harvesting until April or May next year

It's urgent to get wallflowers in place now. These spring-flowering biennials need to get their roots down well before flowering.

Sow yellow rattle.This is key to the success of any wild flower patch as it reduces the vigour of certain grasses, and fresh seed works best.
WeLoveTattenhall