Gardening in September – Jobs to Prepare Your Garden for Autumn

September is a wonderful month in the garden. The intense heat of summer is usually behind us, the soil is still warm, and the first signs of autumn are beginning to appear. It’s also an important time to give your garden some attention before the colder and wetter weather arrives.

A little work during September can keep your garden looking attractive throughout autumn while also preparing lawns, plants, trees and borders for the months ahead. Here are some of the most useful gardening jobs to tackle this September.

1. Plant for Spring Colour

September is an excellent time to start planting spring-flowering bulbs. Daffodils, crocuses and alliums can be planted now, giving them plenty of time to establish before winter.

A little planning now can produce a wonderful display of colour when the garden comes back to life next spring.

2. Prune, Cut Back and Tidy

After months of vigorous summer growth, some plants can begin to look untidy. Remove dead or damaged growth, deadhead flowering plants where appropriate and cut back perennials that have finished flowering.

It’s also a good opportunity to tidy borders and remove weeds before they have the chance to spread further.

3. Give Your Lawn Some Attention

Your lawn may have had a difficult summer, particularly following periods of hot or dry weather.

Continue mowing while the grass is actively growing, but gradually raise the cutting height as growth slows. September can also be a good month for scarifying, aerating and applying an appropriate autumn lawn feed.

Bare or damaged areas can often be reseeded while the soil is still warm and there is more natural moisture available.

4. Start Clearing Fallen Leaves

As autumn approaches, leaves will begin to fall. Try not to allow thick layers of leaves to remain on lawns, paths or patios.

Leaves left on grass can block light and encourage disease, while wet leaves on paths and paving can become slippery.

Don’t throw all those leaves away, though. Healthy fallen leaves can be collected to make valuable leaf mould or added to your composting system.

5. Plant Trees, Shrubs and Hedges

Autumn is one of the best times of year for planting many trees, shrubs and hedging plants.

The soil retains warmth from summer while increased rainfall helps new plants establish their roots. Planting during autumn gives them valuable time to settle in before the following growing season.

6. Divide Overcrowded Perennials

If established perennials have become too large or aren’t flowering as well as they once did, September can be a good time to divide them.

Plants such as hostas, daylilies and other established clump-forming perennials can be lifted, carefully divided and replanted. This can revitalise existing plants while giving you additional plants for other areas of the garden.

7. Prepare Ponds for Autumn

If you have a garden pond, remove dying foliage and cut back plants that are beginning to collapse into the water.

You may also want to place netting over the pond before large quantities of autumn leaves begin to fall. Preventing leaves from accumulating in the water will make pond maintenance much easier later in the season.

8. Remember the Wildlife

Your garden can provide valuable food and shelter for wildlife as we move towards autumn and winter.

Keep bird feeders and water supplies topped up, and consider leaving some seed heads rather than cutting everything back. Log piles, sheltered corners and areas of natural vegetation can also provide important habitats for insects and other garden wildlife.

Get Your Garden Ready for Autumn

September isn’t simply about tidying up after summer. It’s about preparing your garden for the seasons ahead.

From lawn maintenance and pruning to planting, hedge care and general garden maintenance, getting these jobs completed now can make a significant difference to how your garden looks throughout autumn and how well it performs next spring.

Need some help getting your garden ready for autumn?

Our professional gardening and landscaping team can help with seasonal maintenance, lawns, hedges, planting, pruning, garden clearances and landscaping projects.

Contact us today to arrange a quotation and get your garden ready for the months ahead.