Last days of summer…it’s time to tidy up ready for autumn

As the last days of summer draw in, it’s time to take action to tidy up the garden ready for the autumn and winter ahead.

Shorter days and the drop in temperature will see a shift in the garden but there is plenty to do while enjoying the last rays of sunshine.

Grab your secateurs and get deadheading both your annuals and perennials which will extend how long they bloom. Penstemons, dahlias and roses and the like will thank you for the attention and will continue to flower and with a bit of luck and careful pruning you should be able to keep hanging baskets blossoming for a little longer too.

Elaeagnus and escallonia are beautiful shrubs offering a stunning background to other plants and this is a good time to tidy them up.

Late-summer flowering shrubs such as helianthemum should also be pruned along with climbing and rambling roses unless they are repeat flowering varieties in which case they can be left until later in the year.

Herbaceous perennials such as agapanthus, echinacea, achillea and geranium should also be divided as the weather cools and the separated plants should be repotted or re-planted and watered well to encourage new growth.

Make sure spring favourites camellias and rhododendrons are also well-watered at this time or year to ensure next year’s buds develop well.

However, just a word of caution…don’t be tempted to cut back your perennials until you are sure they are dormant.

Fruit trees too will benefit from pruning and September is a good time to tidy up strawberry plants, clear away any used straw which might harbour pests and diseases over winter and pot up runners for next year’s crop.

Pick off rotting fruits from pear, apple and stones fruit trees so they can’t spread any disease and harvest your plums and apples.

It’s also time to restore your lawn and the first step is to ensure leaves are regularly swept up. Left on the grass, leaves will block out the light and air from the grass and will encourage moss and mould. However, you can rake up your leaves and use the good quality, well-rotted leaf mould you have stored as seed sowing compost in future years.

Autumn lawn feed will help to keep grass roots strong and protect them from icy conditions and frost. If your lawn looks patchy and tired, scarify it now and reseed it. For best results, ensure your grass is well watered and the soil looser.

Preparations should also begin now to protect delicate plants which won’t survive the winter. Horticultural fleeces are insulating material used to protect plants which are vulnerable to being damaged by frost and cold weather. Get them ready to go before the first frost hits.

For more advice and information on what to do in September and how to prepare your garden for winter, read more on our website or speak to our knowledgeable and helpful staff.