East Dean and Friston
September Garden Tasks
East Dean and Friston Gardening club
Sowing & Planting
* Sow salad crops: winter lettuce, lamb’s lettuce, oriental leaves ( mizuna, pak choi)
* Plant spring-flowering bulbs: daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, fritillarie
• Sow hardy annual flowers for next summer
• Plant new perennials while soil is war
• Divide overcrowded perennial
• Start forcing rhubarb crowns
• Sow green manure on empty soil to protect over winter
Pruning & Cutting Back
Harvesting
Watering & Feeding
* Water new plantings during dry spells
* Feed autumn flowering plants as needed
* Reduce feeding of houseplants as growth slows
* Prune summer-fruiting raspberries after harvest
* Cut back perennials that have finished flowering
* Trim evergreen hedges
* Deadhead faded blooms to prolong flowering
* Remove fallen fruit to avoid disease
* Lift and divide congested irises and other early summer perennials
* Harvest apples, pears, plums and late raspberries
* Pick maincrop potatoes and store in paper sacks
* Collect seeds from flowers and veg
*Gather herbs for drying or freezing
* Pick late beans, tomatoes, courgettes, squash
Greenhouse
* Check and remove shading as light level drops
* Continue ventilating but avoid cold draughts
* Sow winter salad crops under cover
* Clean leaves and check for pests
Houseplants
* Reduce watering as light levels drops
* Clean leaves and check for pests
* Bring tender houseplants indoors before frosts
* Repot if roots are congested
Lawn Care
* Rake out moss and thatch (scarify)
* Aerate compacted areas
* Apply autumn lawn feed
* Sow new lawns or repair bare patches
* Keep mowing but gradually lower the height
General Maintenance
* Weed borders and paths before seeds set
* Prepare soils for autumn planting
* Check pond nets are in place to catch falling leaves
* Clean and store tools not in use* Repair anything that’s broken
* Start composting fallen leaves for leaf mould
* Keep garden tidy to discourage pests over winter
And Finally…….
* Take a moment to enjoy the gentle shift into autumn. The days might be shorter, but the garden is still full of colour and promise. Brew a cup of tea ( or something stronger), sit back, and admire your hard work!