Its nearly September!

Yes believe it or not summer's nearly over and before you know it , it will soon be Autumn. The days will still be fairly warm for a while and hopefully we'll have an Indian summer !

So what should we do in the month of September ?

Cutting back, dead heading and Dahlias

Cutting back of the summer perennials are an ongoing task this month - as is the dead heading of various plants such as Penstemons and Dahlias , by doing this you will ensure your flowers continue to flower well in to September and even longer in some cases ( I've kept Dahlias going well in to the first frosts before ).

Laying Turf

September is a great time to put down a new lawn as its not to hot and not to cold. The rains tend to come and go this month , so all in all a great time to lay that turf or establish a new lawn.

Dividing Irises

Another task to do this month is to divide any Irises you may have . Often becoming over crowded over time September is a great time to do this as again the temperature has cooled down. If your stretched for time then this job can be put off till october if needs be.

Spring Bulbs

Most spring bulbs would have been on sale for a few weeks by now and now is the best time to be planting them up ready for the spring.

Hyacinths, winter aconites and daffodils are a great choice to start with. Aconites you don't really see much these days , but if you can get hold of some they are a great investment and will spread and divide year after year causing a great display. They are great at the bases of large trees and give a great contrast in the spring.

Tulips are best planted around October/November time. The cold weather helps wipe out any fungal or viral infections in the soil which in turn helps the Tulips fend of any would be diseases.

Thats plenty to be getting on with for now ! Look out for more tips and advise next week.

Jason