Nine Gardening Tips for September

If you are a keen gardener, you’ll never have a dull moment, as you’ll always find something to do whatever the time of year. From composting to collecting plant seeds and harvesting, September is a busy month, as this is when you round off the summer season and prepare for cooler weather to set in. Wondering what the top priorities are for autumn? Here are nine gardening tips by Madingley Mulch outdoor gardening supplies, Cambridge.

Composting

Now is the perfect time to invest in a compost bin, in advance of all the fallen leaves that you will collect in your garden this autumn. A top tip is to place it somewhere in the garden that is easy to reach, such as within easy distance of the kitchen. Otherwise, the chances are that you won’t use it. If you don’t want to do your own composting, we have a variety of excellent soil conditioners and compost, such as our popular own brands Denise’s Delight and Tony’s Tonic.

Dead Heading

Keep your garden neat and tidy by continuing to dead-head your plants in pots and hanging baskets as container plants will keep going for a while in autumn, usually until the first signs of frost set in. Dead-heading means removing flowers when they are wilting or dying, to encourage more growth. It is easy to do and can either be done with your finger or thumb, or with secateurs.

 Greenhouses

If you find yourself with some time to spare, you might want to turn your attention to your greenhouse. Clearing out dead plants and emptying containers of old compost will help keep pests at bay over winter. Another top tip is to water your greenhouse plants in the morning or early afternoon to discourage botrytis – a type of fungus that thrives in damp and chilly environments.

Harvesting

This month you’ll still be busy harvesting your home grown fruit and vegetables, such as apples, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, grapes, figs, onions, carrots, peas, salad leaves and runner beans. If you find yourself with an overspill, you can either freeze or preserve the excess or distribute it among friends, family or neighbours, who will be delighted with your gifts.

Herbs

Now is the time to take cuttings from perennial herbs (these are ones that live for more than two years), such as rosemary and sage. You can plant these in a pot of compost, and put them somewhere warm until the roots grow. If you cook with herbs such as parsley and mint regularly, it’s a good idea to keep them indoors over the colder months.

Lawns

Spring or the beginning of autumn is a great time to sow grass seed or lay turf, as the weather is not too hot or cold. At Madingley Mulch, we sell excellent quality lawn turf in 1 sq metre rolls for collection or delivery in the Cambridgeshire area. If you prefer to grow your lawn from seed, we also sell boxes of grass seed and large economy bags.

Pots

Raising your pots on bricks or slates will prevent the soil getting too wet. In spring or summer, however, it is worth lining terracotta pots with a plastic bag with holes in the bottom, as terracotta dries out much quicker than plastic or ceramic pots. This technique will help the soil maintain its moisture.

Pumpkins

Are you keen to grow the best pumpkin in time for Halloween? One of the ways to help your pumpkin ripen before the big event is to get rid of any leaves that are growing over your fruit. Also, before you eventually store your pumpkins, leave them out in the sun for a while to let the skin of the fruit harden.

 Seeds

This is a good time of year to collect seeds from annual plants. However, a top tip is to make sure they are completely dried out before storage. Once dry, put your seeds in an envelope and store them in an airtight container away from light and heat (a fridge is perfect). To keep your seeds dry, one method is to wrap powdered milk in tissue and to place this in the container with the seeds.

Madingley Mulch sells a wide range of outdoor gardening supplies in the Cambridge area including mulches, soil, soil conditioners, paving slabs, barks, aggregates, decorative stones, chippings, cobbles, fencing and turf. Just click on the link above to buy.

 

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