Tips for maintaining your garden this September

Lawns

Help the lawn to withstand the last of the warm weather (perhaps if that Indian summer arrives!) and keep it resistant to treading by mowing the grass less frequently.

Repair patchy lawns damaged by the summer weather with turf or seed.

Flowers

Sow hardy annuals such as Consolida, Calendula, Centaurea, Limnanthes and poppies.

Deadhead plants including dahlias, delphiniums, roses and penstemons to prolong the display and give colour well into the month.

Bring any delicate perennials inside, such as fuchsias, gazanias, lantanas and abutilons, to avoid any frost damage.

Sow hardy greens – kale, land cress, pak choi, mizuna, lamb’s lettuce and mustard will make great pickings in winter.

Trees and shrubs

Prune late-summer flowering shrubs including Philadelphus and remember to trim evergreen hedges to ensure they are in shape for winter.

Climbing roses should be pruned once they have finished flowering. Cut out dead, diseased growth and tie in new shoots to the support at the base

Once the autumnal weather sets in, you can safely plant and move shrubs and trees.

Ponds

Place netting over pond surfaces in order to stop fallen leaves and other debris accumulating in the water, as this can encourage growth of algae and weeds, which can be damaging to fish.

Garden maintenance

Clear dead leaves from the lawn, then shred with a mulching mower to break them down and add to the compost heap.

Remove moss and algae from patios to prevent them from becoming slippery during the winter months.

Prepare for the autumn rains by cleaning water butts and checking drainpipe fittings.

(Image: Nick Huxley, Head Gardener at Goldstone Hall Gardens, Shropshire)