UK Gardeners Urged To Do 5 Tasks In September

Ripe applesIt might feel like we’ve been in autumn for weeks now – some blackberries have been ripe since the height of summer, after all, and the leaves have browned long before the light changed. But officially speaking, the season starts now. And that means much of your garden has gone into harvest-ready ripeness, while the critters in your backyard are starting to prepare themselves for winter. James Ewens, a gardening expert at Green Feathers, said that “Your September jobs don’t have to be exhaustive, but a little goes a long way.“Your garden is experiencing less daylight and cooler temperatures, and more moisture in your soil works in your favour for planting and establishing new growth.”Here are some of the tasks the expert recommends completing this month:1) Keep an eye out for wildlife With bleak winter up ahead, autumn is a great time to start taking care of your garden’s wildlife. “Create a safe haven by providing water, food, and shelter for those scarce cold months,” Ewens advised.“Something as small as leaving the seedheads on your sunflowers, planting native trees and shrubs, and supplementing your garden with bird-loving food like high-energy bird cakes or fat balls provides a food source for birds.” You can also try leaving piles of logs, leaves, and branches for creatures to shelter in your backyard. And delaying pruning, especially of late-blooming plants like ivy, can provide crucial later food sources.2) Harvest, harvest, harvest Whether you’re growing pears, plums, squash, courgettes, pumpkins, late beans, or apples, now’s a great time to collect your autumn bounty. “Regular harvesting encourages continued fruitful crops, and prevents them from falling and going to waste,” Ewens said. And removing them before they become overripe can reduce the risk of pests and disease, too.3) Divide perennialsLoads of herbaceous perennials, such as asters and daylilies, benefit from being divided up to four times a year. September is a great month to do this, Ewens said, because “The soil is still workable and plants are starting to slow their growth as autumn draws near.“Dividing your perennials prevents overcrowding, reduces plants’ competition for nutrients, and rejuvenates those older clumps that may have stopped blooming as vigorously,” he added. 4) Plant spring bulbs September soil isn’t just soft – it’s also still warm from the summer heat. That makes it a great incubator for spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, tulips, crocuses and hyacinths, whose roots can grow long and strong ahead of the winter cold.“By staggering your varieties, you can expect months of colour, with crocuses showing their faces in February, and late tulips in May,” Ewens pointed out, which, besides looking stunning, is great news for hungry pollinators.5) Fix your lawn’s bald patches September is a great month to aerate your soil to improve drainage, which can make root growth easier. And, Ewens noted, “It’s the optimal time to overseed those bare patches on our lawns, so they can thicken before winter - giving that even, healthy appearance.”Additionally, he said, “A light feed in September with something high in potassium and phosphorus can promote strong root growth and winter hardiness”.Not only will this make your garden look more lush, but it’s great news for birds hungry for worms and insects too.Related...UK Gardeners Urged To Do 4 Tasks This Bank Holiday WeekendUK Gardeners Urged To Check For Yellow Patches On GrassUK Gardeners Warned To Look For 'Webs' On Their Hedge Before It's Too Late

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