September Gardening Guide

What to do in the Garden in September

While September may see the meteorological start of autumn, we can still get a few nice days and plenty of sunshine throughout the month.

Plenty of flowers may still be in bloom in your garden, and vegetables and fruit can still be developing too. So, September is a month to maintain your garden, but also start looking forward.

Anything that is past its best can be got rid of, which will help with the winter jobs. You can even start thinking about next year, with spring bulb preparation and analysing what did and didn’t work this year.

Here are some of the things you should be doing in your garden in September:

1. Clear out outbuildings

Sheds, greenhouses, cold frames, and garages should all be cleared out ready to store garden tools, plant pots, and plants and trees that need shelter over the winter.

Empty any old pots. Old soil and decaying plants can harbour pests and diseases which can be harmful to your new plants next year. You will then want to get rid of all traces of this soil.

A yard brush can get rid of any soil and debris first. Then, use a pressure washer to blast away any dirt remaining. This will ensure everything is clean and organised, so when you go to sort everything in the new year, you know where it is, and everything is in good condition.

Remember to wear PPE when using a pressure washer due to the force from the water. Safety boots and eye protection are a must.

2. Plant spring flowering bulbs

Daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, allium, and snowdrops are just some of the flowers you may want to fill borders and pots in spring.

To ensure they’re ready in time, start planting them now. It may seem very early, but with cold over winter, autumn is actually the perfect time to begin.

Those planted now should be the first to emerge at the first signs of spring. Keep staggering the planting throughout autumn to ensure you have colour from the start of next year until summer.

3. Create your new lawn

Autumn weather is ideal for a new lawn. Not too hot, and plenty of time for development when not in use. You will get root growth, rather than leafy growth.

We have guides on how to overseed your lawn if you can work with the existing grass, as well as how to lay new turf if you need to start fresh as your current lawn is unsalvageable.

4. Get compost bins and water butts ready

Once September is over, you will start having to cut back existing plants, get rid of old annual plants that won’t flower again, and also gather leaves once they start falling.

This can all be added to a compost bin, so whether you’re starting one from scratch, or your current one needs some attention since the start of the year, now is the perfect time to get everything ready.

The RHS has a great guide on how to start a compost bin – you can even add vegetable cuttings, weeds, and cardboard over winter!

Then there’s the water butt. This will collect rainwater and overflow water from drainpipes over winter, for use next summer during any droughts, hosepipe bans, or just to save you some money!

Remember to clean your gutters throughout autumn and ensure they are debris-free. Check them over now for any issues, such as broken pipes, loose fittings, and cracks. Make any repairs before the rain arrives.

Hire a Mi tower to ensure you do this safely and securely.

5. Keep deadheading

There will still be some life in your annuals and perennials yet. Removing the old dead heads will ensure there is enough energy in the plant for new flowers and leaves to grow.

Remember to gather any seeds from flowers that can be sown next year, and divide any perennials now so they can establish themselves before next year.

Don’t forget to deadhead hanging baskets, too.