things that you can do in your gardens

In Bloom is about getting the most from your garden and creating something that you can enjoy and take pride. In order to have your garden in peak condition, it is important that you make sure you care for it properly. This involves sticking to a plan and preparing your garden to achieve the results you require.

Here is a quirk guide to help you through the months.

September

With the relaxing summer period drawing too close and the children all back at school there is a lot of jobs to do in the garden. Having enjoyed wonderful summer blooms for the past few months your summer bedding will no doubt be looking past After the heat. It’s time to complete the pruning of summer shrubs and remember to continue to deadhead the roses. As with last month, give more through to spring bedding.

Winter and spring flowering bulbs such as snowdrops, bluebells, daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and anemones should be planted. Biennials and perennials sown earlier can also be transplanted and sweet peas and hardy annuals can be sown in pots. Make sure that the beds are dig over and add fertilised before you plant out.

Lawns should be raked over with a spring rake to remove any moss. They should also be spiked with a fork, fertilised and re-seeded if necessary. If you have any damaged areas, you can cut it out offending area and loosen of the soil beneath it. Fill the holes with sieved soil, pressing gently to firm it as you go, and sow 30 to 40 grams of seed per square meter. Then sift a mixture of soil and peat over the seeded area and make sure you protect the area from birds by black netting and short pegs.

Harvest any fruit and vegetables as and when they become ripe. Prune existing fruit trees and begin to prepare sections for the planting of new trees. However, may have to be planted slightly later this year due to the reduced rainfall.

Don’t forget about houseplants that you may have had outside during the summer months. Make sure you bring them inside when the evening getting colder to avoid the first frost, which, depending on the weather could be later this month.