IN THE GARDEN IN SEPTEMBER 2010
Herbaceous perennials are the mainstay of Summer borders and are also invaluable for late flower colour as the days shorten and the mornings turn crisp and damp. There are still many to enjoy into October, including Sedums with their succulent leaves and flat flower heads, which start green and open to hundreds of star-like flowers. Available in a range of pink, red and white varieties, they are all irresistible to butterflies and bees, and provide a long season of interest in well-drained soil and a sunny spot. Michaelmas Daisies (Asters) are also available in a wide range of rich colours – ideal for late colour in the garden and also for flower-arranging.
Perennials which have finished their Summer displays can be pruned to within a few centimetres of the ground now and given a mulch with garden compost. Remove the rest of the growth in the Spring, when the plants start to shoot back into growth.
Salvia and Penstemon are two valuable long-flowering perennials, but are not as hardy as many others. It is not too late to take a few tip cuttings and over-Winter them in a cold, frost-free greenhouse, as insurance against another cold Winter.
Some plants are only too happy to perform through the Winter, such as the shrubby Winter Honeysuckle, with its highly-scented flowers, appearing from November to February. There are also varieties of Winter-flowering Viburnums, which are equally easy to grow. V. x bodnantense ‘Deben’ has a long flowering season and deliciously-scented clusters of white flowers. Viburnum tinus has no scent, but produces welcome clusters of white flowers on evergreen plants. Ideal to decorate the house through the darker months.
Thoughts also turn to Spring now in the gardening year and a visit to your local garden centre or the
www.notcutts.co.uk bulb section will reveal a good range of Spring-flowering bulbs such as Crocus, Narcissus and Tulips – all for planting now. Why not create a vibrant Spring border by planting Tulips with Wallflowers or Forget-Me-Nots? Pinch out the tops of Wallflowers when you plant them, to make them bush out and produce even more of their scented flowers.
The vegetable garden will still be full of produce, which should be harvested regularly to ensure that the plants go on cropping for the longest possible period. Freeze or preserve any excess to use through the Winter. Main-crop potatoes should be lifted, unwashed, for storage now in hessian or paper sacks. Brush the excess soil off the tubers and only store those which are not damaged, in a dry, cool, but frost-free, dark place.
Continue to hoe between all crops on suitable days and remove spent plants to add to the compost heap as they become available. Layer up with grass clippings or weeds which have not gone to seed, as well as suitable kitchen waste. Cover the heap with a lid or some old carpet through the Winter to prevent it getting too wet and turning into a soggy mess.