With September finally here, the glorious summer sun is set to be replaced by autumn’s cruel winds — take nothing for granted and prepare for the fleet of falling leaves that are about to inundate your garden. Don’t forget to make the most of your summer blossoms with cuttings and seed collections before it’s too late!
Make sure to mulch
September soil is a hotbed for mulching; it’s warm, so you’ll trap in enough heat and moisture to keep winter weeds at bay — this protects roots from frost and helps prevent soil from washing away in storms and harsh wind, creating protection for months to come.
Clean out your pond before winter sets in
Allowing vegetation to grow up over your pond can be seriously dangerous for ‘its’ little ecosystem, so make sure you take all the necessary steps to keep it well oxidised. Begin to clear away any falling or rotting vegetation as soon as you see it and stop falling leaves from building up at all costs. Don’t be scared to implement a pond net to cover over the whole water area if your pond is under trees. If you do take this step, keep a watchful eye over the netting to make sure you don’t trap frogs and hedgehogs in it.
Prepare for avian attacks
With plenty of bird species, including Starlings, migrating back to the UK for the winter your vegetable patch is set to be under assault; to prepare for their return, make sure your defences are stronger than ever by re-netting with some pea and bean support net.
Collect ripe seeds from your favourite flowers
You’ll know the time is right once seedpods have changed from green to brown, as flowers begin to reach the end of their season. September is the last month you’ll get enough dry and sunny weather to easily split and extract the seeds. Dry them out for a few days then place the seeds in envelopes, making sure they’re well labelled, ready to be sown again in the spring — to give your favourites a new lease of life.
For more fantastic gardening ideas head to www.rhs.org.uk
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