Summer has not yet gone and already in the garden we are preparing for next spring. Bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and crocus are on sale in the garden centre together with a huge selection of species suitable for rock gardens, sinks and containers. Most bulbs are spring flowering and can be planted out at any time during the next 3 months. Hyacinths for indoor culture in bowls should be planted as soon as possible, using prepared bulbs for early flowering. It will soon be time to plant out wallflowers, forget-me-nots (myosotis) and Canterbury bells. Winter pansies, polyanthus, primroses and small semi-hardy cyclamen are ready for planting now. It is time to start sowing sweet peas under glass so that good plants are ready for planting out in the early spring. Harvesting of vegetable crops should now be in full swing. Runner beans should still be producing good crops so will need to be kept well watered, and tomatoes should still be regularly watered. Make sure that marrows and courgettes are cut if an early frost is forecast. Cabbage white butterflies are often active during September, so remove any of their caterpillars from the brassicas. It will soon be time to start planting the special early onion sets. Keep up with the regular mowing of lawns and apply an autumn turf dressing before the end of October. September is a good time to sow grass seed or to lay new turf areas so that they are well established before winter sets in. This is a good time to plant container-grown shrubs, conifers, climbing plants and herbaceous perennials. Cuttings of many shrubs can be taken now. Keep up with regular spraying of roses until the weather cools down. Michaelmas daisies (asters), penstemmons and chrysanthemums are amongst the herbaceous plants in flower this month. After they have flowered, most of these perennials should be cut down and the ‘clippings’ can go on the compost heap. Ornamental grasses and perennials with architectural shapes look good in the winter when covered with frost so these should not be trimmed until springtime and penstemmons should not be cut down until after the winter. Chipperfield has its autumn flower show on September 20 and the final show of the season is the Malvern Autumn Show which is on September 27 & 28. My talk about the 100-year history of Chipperfield’s nursery is on September 24 and tickets are on sale now for Tom Stuart-Smith’s talk which is to take place on October 30.
Terry Simmonds