September has arrived, the evenings are drawing in and the weather is feeling somewhat Autumnal at times! The recent rain has been most welcome as our Summer has been a very dry and tricky one to garden in! 

There’s plenty of jobs to get on with this month and here’s a few you could make a start on . . . 

September is a great time to give those shaggy hedges a clip as it’s the end of bird nesting season. We’ve recently cut out Thuja plicata (the western red cedar) which like Taxus baccata can take a close clipping. It also has a distinct pineapple scent when cut! My go to is the Niwaki Okatsune garden shears - nice and sharp and perfect for the job! 

If you haven’t thought about it yet don’t worry but it’s time to get shopping for some bulbs for spring interest. 

September is a great time to start getting in bulbs like Narcissus, Crocus and Hyacinths. How about planting up a few containers or pots if you’re not ready or unable to plant in the ground. Having a pot filled with Dwarf narcissus like ‘Tete a Tete’ and Hyacinths ‘Blue star’ is just a joy to see in the spring! Also giving off a nice little scent which is an added bonus. Keep an eye out for up coming ‘How to’ videos on our social media where we can help guide you through planting up pots for maximum interest.

If you're a fan of Tulips like I am you’ll need to hold off a little longer before planting out as Tulips require cooling temperatures in the soil to trigger them into spring flowering plus it prevents fungal disease and rot which can occur in warmer soil. 

Propagation! Who doesn’t love free plants?! We have been busy taking new cuttings of our scented leaf Pelargoniums as they have been very popular this summer. Did you know you can make herbal teas using the leaves? You can also use them in baking getting that infused citrus or rose scent into your delicious treats. The only downside is the majority of them can’t survive a British winter but it just means you’ll have to put up with them filling your greenhouse or windowsill with those summer scents. If you’re interested in some Pelargoniums please follow the link provided to our online plant shop and feel free to browse our plant selection. Shop here.

Pssst! We have a seasonal offer on Pelargoniums right now - 3 for £36 (sold in 2 litre pots). Discount automatically applied at checkout. 

Well it’s not all about jobs you can get on with in the garden this month, just don’t forget to enjoy yourself too! Grab a morning cuppa in a sunny corner whilst watching the birds and bees and relax.

Until next time! Dan