It will be quieter in the garden from September? None! September is particularly busy again. You can find out everything there is to do here.
If you think that a gardening season is only limited to the months of May to August, you are wrong. Of course, this is the main time when the plants start to grow, flower and bear fruit, but if you get down to it, there is always something to do in the garden all year round. In winter, for example, protective measures have to be taken or individual plants have to be brought forward. Of course, it always depends on how your own garden is structured and designed.
» My tip: With a detailed garden calendar you always have an overview of what needs to be done in the garden and when.
In this post, I want to focus specifically on September. Because although the actual "garden time" is over, this month is still very busy.
7 Gardening For September
1. Plants
September is the optimal month for planting some plants. These include, for example, the peonies and irises. Because the soil is still warm, the plants have a very good chance of forming new roots before the onset of winter and of blooming in large numbers next spring.
» By the way: Most nurseries only sell peonies in autumn. This is because the small shoot tips could break off during transport in spring.
Winterlings are also planted in September. However, the tubers should be placed in warm water for 24 hours beforehand, otherwise they would dry out in the air.
2. Divide and cut back perennials
In September, special attention can also be paid to the perennials in the garden. Perennials that have grown too large can be divided. But only when you have faded. To do this, simply loosen the root ball in the ground with a digging fork. Now take a sharp spade or a large knife and divide the perennial so that one piece is at least the size of a fist and has at least two shoot tips. Remove at thisBe sure to also proceed with dried and diseased root parts.
» By the way: Smaller sections grow into robust and strong plants faster than large sections.
You should wait a while before pruning the perennial radically. Even if everything has dried up and doesn't look nice anymore, you should give the plant a little more time. They draw the last reserves of energy from the leaves and thus strengthen themselves even more for the coming winter season.
3. Caring for the lawn & reseeding
The lawn is often very stressed in summer, which is why it deserves an extra portion of care in autumn. You can also use September to repair bare patches in the lawn or to reseed the lawn. The weather conditions are optimal in September - a little more moisture and the soil is still warm, so that the seed starts to germinate quickly.
» Tip: Continue watering the lawn when the weather is warm.
Before the overseeding is applied, the soil must be prepared. This includes loosening it. Old and dried-up lawn residues should be removed beforehand, otherwise the reseeding will not have a chance to grow.
» Important: Do not apply long-term fertilizer to the lawn in autumn. This would result in the lawn going into the winter season with thin, soft blades. These are very susceptible to frost and diseases. Instead, use a fertilizer high in potassium, which will ensure the lawn is strong and weathers the cold season well.
4. Rake leaves
In September the first leaves fall from the trees. You should remove this from the lawns in particular. If the leaves remain, the lawn underneath begins to rot. In addition, the humid climate is a perfect place for fungal development.
The leaves can be left on other surfaces because they serve as frost protection and fertilizer and also provide a shelter for insects in winter.
Leaves have no place in the garden pond. It ensures poor water quality with heavy algae growth. To prevent this, you should stretch special nets over your garden pond before the leaves fall from the trees.
5. Collect and dry seeds
Propagating some plants is very easy. All you have to do is collect and dry the seeds, and then you can plant them next year.
The best time to collect the seeds isa warm and dry day in September. Then you can harvest the seeds of sunflowers, marigolds, delphiniums, marigolds, etc. It should definitely be a dry day, otherwise the seeds will be damp and the risk of rot is increased.
Open the seed pod and take out the seeds. You should then lay them out on newspaper to dry for a few days. Alternatively, a matchbox can be used. The cardboard draws the moisture out of the seeds. If you prefer to collect the seeds in a jar (be sure to label it!) you should put a piece of paper in it. Then simply put it in a dark place over the winter period. Seeds stored in this way can be viable for up to three years. If you still want to be on the safe side, simply do a germ test beforehand.
6. Set flower bulb
After it's often dull and gray in winter or everything is covered by a white blanket of snow, we look forward to the first little signs of spring that will bring color back into the bed. These include above all snowdrops, daffodils and corcuses. September is the best time to plant these bulbs in the ground. Make sure the soil is permeable. If the soil is particularly heavy, you should add some gravel. This also protects flower bulbs that are sensitive to moisture, such as lilies and tulips, from rotting.
» By the way: You should delay the planting of tulip bulbs as much as possible to protect them from the voracious mice.
7. Clear away fallen fruit
Fruit that fell from the trees should be picked up immediately. The longer the fruit sits, the more wasps it attracts. And we usually always have these at the dining table. So don't wait too long.
Remember that wasps are a protected species and killing, injuring or catching the animals is punishable by hefty fines.
Furthermore, new pests can be bred by the fallen fruit, especially if it has been lying around for a while. These can then infest surrounding plants. In addition, at some point the fruit will start to get moldy and smell unpleasant.
» Tip: Hedgehogs, insects and birds enjoy small pieces of fruit. But really only leave small amounts.
Despite all the gardening work that you have to do in September, you should never forget to enjoy your garden to the fullest. Winter is coming faster than you think.