Monthly Garden Advice for September
Attract Butterflies
By planting a suitable range of Herbaceous border plants that will flower from now on such as Rudbeckia, Aster, Sedum, Marjoram and Lavender.
Put up a Butterfly box to help them overwinter in a dark dry place.
Hanging Baskets and Containers
Keep watering, feeding and deadheading summer containers to prolong flowering. Plant up new containers for Autumn and winter with packs of Pansy and Viola Include 9cm pots of foliage such as Thyme, Sage, Curry plant and Ivy for added interest.
Vegetables
Plant out Japanese Onion sets and Garlic for next season. They will establish and grow through the milder spells in the winter to give earlier crops next year.
Bulb Planting
Prepared Hyacinths may be planted now. Plant singularly in 9 or 10cm pot using John Innes No 1 or Multipurpose compost leaving the top one third of the bulb above soil level. Water in and plunge beneath 10cm of compost and keep in a cool location. Keep compost moist and once the shoots are 3 - 4 cm long they should be moved into a light position to flower. Select Bedding Hyacinths for planting in the borders close to a path, the scent is fantastic and the smaller flower spikes less liable to flop.
Lawn Maintenance
New Lawns - this is an ideal time for sowing new lawns. The site should be carefully prepared to remove perennial weeds and raked and consolidated by treading. Rake in new lawn feed before sowing. Sow seed at about 40g per sq metre selecting the appropriate mix for the site.
