Barbara Stockitt's Guide to Classic Gardening...

September

Towards the end of the month youcan move BUXUS and TAXUS plants to a new situation if you wish.  Remember to keep them well watered until they are established.  Do not clip your buxus plants after September.  This also applies to hedging.  Late cutting will cause new growth and that could be subject to frost damage.  When watering do not  water from above, only on the roots, as this can cause disease problems.

Continue to dead head in the HERBACEOUS ORDER.  Keep the border clean with weeding and hoeing.

Spray your ROSES against black spot, making sure that each plant is thoroughly covered with the liquid.  The middle of the month is the right time to prune RAMBLER ROSES, firstly untying all the stems from the supports.  Cut out the old wood leaving about six lengths of the new growth.  If this seems too drastic, save some of the old wood but reduce the length quite severely.  Tie the stems back to the supports, spreading them out evenly.  Use twine for this of medium thickness.  Thinner twine cuts into the young wood.  Allow some space for the stems to swell

NEW HEDGES.  Container grown plants can be planted this month, but you can also prepare for  planting balled or bare root plants during the autumn.

AUTUMN FLOWERING BULBS that are naturalized in grass will benefit from a dressing of bone meal.  Apply at a rate of 65g per sq meter. Plant daffodils either naturalized or in beds.  Spring flowering cyclamen or crocuses may also be planted.

Harvesting FRUIT TREES continues and mid-season apples and pears will be ripening.  Autumn raspberries should be ready now. The birds do not attack these fruits.

Order new FRUIT TREES now while there is a good selection of them.

MOWING  The growth rate of the grass will be slowing, so towards the end of the month raise the blades by about 6mm.  Now is the time to sow new lawns.

SHRUBS. Take cuttings of the shrubs which are not fully hardy.  These will provide replacements should the older shrubs not survive.

CLIMBERS and WALL plants should now be planted while the soil is still warm.

Spinach should be sown now and will over winter as seedlings.  The crop will  be ready around April when there are few greens around.