September is the time of year when we see the end of one summer and start planning for the next!

The days are shorter and the weather begins to turn whilst nature itself begins to show the signs of the forthcoming autumn.

Watch out for the onset of stormy weather and protect any weak or fledgling plants and by adding mulch to your borders you will have more control over the moisture levels as mulch will retain moisture from heavy rainfalls and help to combat long periods of dry weather too.

Hanging baskets should still be flowering now so keep them going a little longer and maintain your routine of deadheading, feeding and watering regularly.  Once they have completely finished, plant up with spring flowering bulbs ready for next year but remember to protect from the harsh weather over the winter.

Here at Grosvenor, our considerable bulb collection is now arriving regularly with new varieties on offer too.  The Bulb of the Year is the Narcissus ‘February Gold’ variety for bright yellow blooms to welcome the spring.

Two year old (and older) herbaceous perennials can be divided now too – including Campanula, Crocosmias and Leucanthemum – but younger perennials should be left until next year.  Continue to cut back perennials and September is also a great time to plant new perennials and take cuttings from young perennials too.  Remember to bring them inside before the frosts take hold.

And now onto what is rapidly becoming one of the most popular pastimes in the garden – your Edible Garden.  And this month, much of your hard work comes to fruition as you begin to harvest the first Brussels sprouts, leeks, parsnips and sweetcorn and pick delicious fruits such as blackberries, blueberries (a ‘superfruit’), loganberries and raspberries.

You can also sow Spring Onion ‘winter’ variety now and Cabbage Greens and Spinach until the end of the month.

Wildlife is extremely important and this time of year we need to do all we can to help the birds and wildlife before they migrate or hibernate over the winter months.

Keep your birdbath topped up, not only providing birds with bath water but also a recognised source of drinking water.  Here at Grosvenor, we have a great range of everything you need to provide different varieties of birds with seeds and feed mixes to ensure each bird receives the correct nutrients as a supplement to their natural diets.

Continue to watch for British bats during the evenings, together with young mammals such as badgers, foxes, hedgehogs and voles.  It is a common misconception that a young hedgehog should be fed with bread and milk.  Please don’t do this as cat or dog food is preferable.  Again, visit our wildlife department on your next visit to Grosvenor to see our range of hogitats, bat boxes and many more habitats for our wildlife to nest in.

You should still be able to see plenty of butterflies in September and insects too.  Encourage wildlife to your garden by ignoring a few general gardening jobs.  For example, don’t trim your hedges too often as they provide fantastic shelter and nutrition for wildlife.  Roses that provide hips should be left too as they also provide a source of food.  If you are looking to attract more insects to your garden in particular, include plants such as Buddleia and Lavenders.  Single flowered blooms generally attract more insects.

Finally, make the most of the closing days of summer and enjoy your garden.  Next month we will be taking a look at the arrival of autumn and preparing for winter.

Top Tips for September:
1. Plant spring flowering bulbs
2. Continue to water tender plants regularly
3. Add mulch to your borders to help regulate moisture from late summer rainfalls
4. Keep your birdbath topped up
5. Begin to harvest vegetables for winter.

August marks one of the warmest months in the British calendar and your garden should be at its beautiful best. 

Not only will it look good, you will be able to enjoy it for longer as the evenings have yet to draw in and the children are still on holiday and enjoying playing out in the fresh air.  And whilst the children play, you can be getting on with a few jobs in the garden! 

It is vital to water your plants and containers regularly and copiously now – collected rainwater is great for this.  And while you are at it, top up ponds, water features and bird baths too!

The Hydrangea is our August Plant of the Month with its display of large, striking blooms.  Choose from a variety of shades to suit most garden colour schemes and soils.

Your Edible Garden should be at its peak in August – bursting with delicious home-grown fruits and vegetables so pick your summer fruit and use any surplus to make jams for the coming months.  Enjoy pies, jams and desserts with apples and blackberries and prepare your strawberry beds now for next year. 

It is the perfect time to harvest your vegetables from the first of the leeks and pumpkins to the last of the mangetout peas and rhubarb.  Freeze any excess to enjoy throughout the winter.

Onions, garlic and shallots can also be raised when ready – watch for the stem to change colour and begin to bend.  They will need to dry out before you eat them and will then taste delicious.

Flowering herbs should be cut back now for a second growth and herbs can be potted and taken indoors so that you can use them easily over the winter months.  Comfrey, rosemary, sage and thyme should be ready for harvesting now.

Hanging baskets should still be going strong so keep on top of deadheading to encourage flowering right through to the autumn.  This also applies to bedding and cut back herbaceous plants and hardy geraniums this month too.

Wisteria and Pyracantha, together with climbing and rambling Roses, can be pruned if they have finished flowering and perennials can now be divided.  Make sure they do not dry out though!  Hebes and Lavenders can also be cut back gently. 

Towards the end of the month is a great time to begin to sow bi-annuals into your borders ready for wonderful displays of flowers next summer.

Top Tips for August 

1.  Continue to water weekly and feed with a liquid feed weekly or fortnightly
2.  Trim hedges – don’t forget to ensure any nesting or sheltering wildlife is protected
3.  Continue to deadhead shrubs to encourage longer flowering
4.  Your lawn may begin to look brown now but don’t worry – it will soon become green again with the first autumn rains
5.  Clean water features with algicides – especially if the water is shallow
6.  Clean your bird bath and bird tables
7.  Plant particular plants to attract insects – especially those with single flowers
8.  Watch out for British bats during the evenings – they keep midges and other small insects at bay!

We’re just back from RHS Chelsea Flower Show and what a great show it was!
There were some fantastic Show Gardens - one of our favourites was the Trailfinders Australian Garden with plenty of space for relaxing and enjoying life amidst wild jungle-themed planting.

We noticed many strong structures mixed with natural planting and a great deal of eco-friendly materials around the show.  And none more so than in the Eden Project’s Places of Change garden in line with their Growing for Life programme and their work within communities with the homeless and ex-offenders.  The largest ever show garden at Chelsea, what struck us about this garden was the clever re-use of old items that many of us would simply throw away - even washing machine bits and pieces were re-used as a ‘Wall of Small Views’!

Plants, as ever, are a vital component of any Chelsea Flower Show and the Great Pavilion did not disappoint.  Beautiful displays of Alliums, Dahlias and Delphiniums, Lavenders and Orchids alongside the most perfect fruits and vegetables – from strawberry baskets to the most unusual squashes!

Did you go to Chelsea?  If so, we would love to hear from you!  Did you have a favourite Show Garden?  Did you agree with the Daily Telegraph garden winning the ‘Best in Show’ award?  What was your favourite plant display?  Email info@grosvenorgardencentre.co.uk to tell us more.