September begins the transition away from summer. The hot season is on its way out and autumn is just around the corner.
It also means the time has come for gardeners to switch gears and think about autumn planting and gardening. This includes plenty of jobs that need to be completed to ensure the backyard is prepped and ready for the change in season.
If you're one of them, get ready to roll up your sleeves and fill your garden with autumn colours and plants. In this post, we bring you a roundup of Gardening Jobs and what to plant in September.
Gardening in September
Whether you're about to enter a warm or cold season, there are greens you can plant, grow, harvest and eat (eventually). But September isn't all about reaping what you sow, despite how fun that sounds.
You will also need to consider whether weeding and watering need to be done, alongside composting and cleaning. In short, there are plenty of important tasks you could be getting on with this month.
September Gardening Jobs Checklist
Lucky for you, these chores are quick, easy and great a way to keep you out in the fresh air this month! *Tasks not in order.
1. Clear beds and borders
As the temperature drops, summer bedding will start to wither. You can leave the beds fallow through winter or start digging to make way for spring bedding and bulbs.
2. Pick ripened fruits and veggies
Don't let the fruits and greens spoil; if you have apple or pear trees, harvest them now. Wrap each piece of fruit in a newspaper or tissue paper to prevent bruising. Then store the fruit somewhere cool, dark and well-ventilated.
3. Plant, move and divide perennials
Perennials can now be planted, moved and divided - ideally, on a still, overcast day so the roots won't dry out. When lifting and moving them, keep the soil around the roots for protection.
Add bone meal to the soil, as this will break down over winter and feed the roots when regrowth starts in spring.
(Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
4. Provide plant protection
Delicate plants are vulnerable to winter temperatures. Protect them by stocking up on fleecing and bubble wrap.
This is great for insulating pots and planters, as well. You'll also want to ensure your greenhouse or cold frames are clean, insulated, and in good order.
5. Prioritise lawn care
The weather is still warm enough for lawns to keep growing, so mow them weekly. Remove dead grass, moss and weeds from within the grassroots.
Use a rake to give the grass a ‘hair brush’. This will improve airflow and drainage.
6. Tidy your vegetable patch
Give your vegetable patch a general tidy-up before autumn arrives. Remove old crops from the patch and clear away weeds.
Continue to harvest crops and find new ways to store them to get the most out of your harvest. At the end of the month, plant garlic bulbs ready to use the following year.
7. Don't forget your pond
Some things will start to die back and slow down within garden ponds in early autumn. Cut back any dead and dying material to keep the aquatic plants tidy.
Clear any surface weed off to let as much light into the water as possible. Most importantly, protect the fish from herons by laying netting over the pond.
8. Look out for pollinators
Your garden pollinators will still need plenty of nectar. Add nectar-rich plants like asters, sedums and echinaceas. These blooms will continue flowering for a few months and re-appear next year too.
9. Feed your soil
Replenish the nutrients that growing plants have used up. Layer well-rotted compost or manure onto the surface. Then, leave it and let earthworms and the winter weather do the rest. Alternatively, dig the organic material deep into the soil to help it spread.
10. Deadhead spent blooms
Removing dead flower heads will help keep your borders, beds, and pots looking tidy. Saving energy for healthy parts of the plants also ensures their overall health is in good shape.
11. Plant spring bulbs
Most spring bulbs will favour a sunny spot. But some do best with a little shade, especially those that originate from a woodland setting.
If garden space is limited, other varieties can grow well in pots. Use peat-free compost with added fertiliser and raise the pots up from the ground so excess water can drain away.
12. Sweep your patio and decking
You'll also want to make sure your patio and garden deck are free of fallen leaves, moss and algae. Otherwise, they risk being washed into drains, creating blockages and causing floods.
Use a stiff brush and detergent to sweep away debris. A pressure washer is a brilliant tool for this too.
13. Collect seeds
Most of your crops are likely at the right stage to harvest their seeds in autumn. Collect them in a freezer bag or paper envelope and add labels.
Dry them out for a few days, like leaving them in some newspaper in a cool, dry area. Then they’ll be ready to store for sowing in spring.
14. Plant containers for colour
Container gardens are a great way to inject more colour into your garden this autumn. Asters and chrysanthemums give great autumn colour as long as you deadhead them.
Use a loam-based compost to retain moisture and nutrients better.
15. Prepare indoor plants for Winter
Done planting your spring-flowering bulbs outside? Then it's time to prepare indoor plants that will flower in time for Christmas.
Fragrant hyacinths, hippeastrum and narcissi are easy to grow. Poinsettia, cyclamen and orchids look lovely as well.
16. Bring house plants back inside
Before the temperature drops, bring any plants you moved outside during the summer back inside. Check the exterior of the pot, the plants and the pot itself.
Make sure the potting medium is mould-free and clean, and the plants and roots are healthy. Then bring them back in so they can be warm and cosy again.
17. Plant onions and shallots
Onion sets can withstand light freezes. Plus, they have a higher success rate than direct-sown seeds or transplants.
Plant onions and shallots in sets. Plant in a sunny spot, 10 cm apart, with the tip showing just above the soil.
18. Clean your greenhouse shade netting
When exposed to dust & moisture, greenhouse shade cloth may appear grey, like mildew, and very dirty. As light levels start to fall, take down the netting and wash it off to ensure there's still enough light coming through.
Wash with a pressure cleaner at a safe distance away from the fabric. Be careful and ensure the fabric isn't damaged during removal, washing and re-installation.
19. Water indoor plants less
Slow down the amount of water you give your houseplants in the fall to help ease the transition. Let the soil dry out a bit more than you usually do. This will allow them to acclimatise for winter properly.
Also, move them off particularly cold window sills at night.
20. Rake fallen leaves and store
Autumn is the prime time to rake leaves. Collect them and store in a chicken-wire cage or bin bags to make leaf mould. Add a little bit of water if they're particularly dry.
Let the leaves slowly decompose and turn into a dark, soft, crumbly substance. The process is slow, but in return, you'll have a mineral-rich and valuable resource you can use your garden.
What Can You Plant in September?
Choosing plants that fit the season is key to finding garden success. For each month, you can find your high and low temperatures to check what season you're in.
If the average high temperature is between 1°C and 18°C, you're in winter - or the cool season of the year. Chances are also good that there'd be some frost or snow. If it's between 18°C and 30°C and there's no chance for frost, you're in the warm season - or summer. But we also know that, in the UK, these temperature averages don't always line up!
Each plant has a unique season of growth, so needless to say, opt for fall plants. Below is a short list of recommended plants for your growing season. In the UK, this will be the cool or winter season. The not-so-hot and wet climate of the autumn is a great time to be growing, even if it's followed by winter.
Cool/Winter seasonal plants
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Collards
- Kale
- Swiss chard
Seeds:
- Arugula
- Beets
- Carrots
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Snow peas
- Sugar snap peas
Warm/Summer season plants
- Basil
- Cherry tomatoes (50-60-day)
- Oregano
- Peppers (small ones)
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
Seeds:
- Arugula
- Bush beans
- Bush cucumbers
- Nasturtium
- Short season vining cucumbers
- Squash or zucchini (60-day)
Flowers, fruits, and other vegetables & herbs
- Asters
- Daffodils
- Pansies
- Peonies
Fruits:
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Peaches
- Plums
Herbs:
- Cilantro
- Garlic
- Leek
- Parsley
- Turnips
September Gardening Jobs: Round-up
Whatever the season, there are jobs to do out there. September, which is known as the gateway to autumn, is no exception.
Don't wait until the spring as you'll miss not one but two full seasons of planting & growing! Take advantage of this time to enjoy the bountiful fresh greens from your kitchen garden.
Use these September gardening jobs as a guide to prepare your backyard for the season!