As September draws to a close, a gardening expert is emphasizing the importance of not neglecting key tasks. Despite the cooler weather and falling leaves, it is not yet time to put away your gardening gloves. Autumn presents an ideal opportunity to tackle maintenance and prepare your garden for the upcoming spring season, ensuring your plants are ready for the winter ahead.
Paul Parker, a gardening specialist at J. Parker’s, shares valuable advice for September to maintain a healthy garden year-round. He suggests that perennials like phlox, daylilies, and astrantia may become overcrowded post-summer and recommends lifting and dividing them in September to promote new growth and rejuvenate them. It is essential to promptly replant any divisions to prevent root dehydration and provide sufficient water to aid their establishment in new locations.
Additionally, Paul recommends lifting tender bulbs such as gladioli and begonias before temperatures decrease. He advises brushing off excess soil to prevent rot from moisture, allowing the bulbs to dry completely before storing them in a cool, frost-free area. For tender plants like salvias and fuchsias, protection is crucial in the upcoming colder months, and propagating cuttings for indoor overwintering is ideal in September. Selecting non-flowering shoots and removing lower leaves are key steps for successful propagation.
Taking cuttings while the weather is still warm facilitates quick rooting and ensures readiness for potting in spring once frost risks diminish. Harvesting mature seeds from flowering plants like nigella and calendula enables you to save them for sowing in the following year. Ensure seeds are thoroughly dried before storing them in labeled envelopes in a cool, dry place away from rodents for optimal storage conditions.
Lastly, trimming back faded perennials, clearing fallen leaves, and tidying borders not only enhance the garden’s appearance but also prevent overwintering pests. Leaving some seed heads intact to provide wildlife with food is recommended. By following these tips, you can keep your garden vibrant and healthy throughout the changing seasons.
