Caring for your lawn during autumn and knowing which vegetables and flowers are best to plant in September is not as tricky as it might sound.
The autumn equinox took place at 8.50am this morning, meaning that today is the first official day of autumn this year.
September is traditionally the month of colourful harvest festivals and a celebration of the crops that have grown successfully over the spring and summer, however autumn also marks an important time in any gardener’s calendar when it comes to cultivating their growing spaces and preparing for next year’s vegetable crop or flowers.
Which vegetables and flowers should you plant in September?
National gardening and growing expert Carol Klein, who is a Gardeners’ World presenter, believes that autumn is the perfect time of the year to start planting fruit and planning which vegetables to grow next year.
‘Those people who are interested in growing but haven’t taken the plunge yet, could be thinking now is the right time to start,’ Carol said.
September is a fantastic time to start to plan ahead for winter harvest and next spring, with leafy veg like cabbages and spinach, as well as peas and broad beans all benefiting from being planted this month while the soil is still warm.
Radishes and turnips are also good to plant in September, as are onions and garlic.
If you have a greenhouse, you can sow seeds for mustard leaf and winter lettuce, but as with all veg that will be growing through the winter months, make sure you cover them in fleece if it’s going to be frosty.
When it comes to sowing flower seeds in September, the best ones to choose are those which fall under the category of ‘hardy annuals’. These include marigolds, cornflowers and poppies, all of which should bloom in spring if planted in autumn.
How to care for your lawn in autumn
Your lawn will need a bit of care at this time of the year, especially if you want your grassy areas to look their best next year.
To care for your lawn during autumn, make sure to rake any leaves up and compost them. Leaves make a fertile compost called leaf mould that you will be thankful for when you’re planting again next year.
If your lawn needs mowing, make sure to raise the blades of your mower so as not to cut the grass too short and as lawn roots like the soil to be free draining, aerate your lawn when possible, either with a machine or with a garden fork pushed in as far as you can. You can then fill in the holes with a gritty compost to aid drainage.
MORE: How to prepare your plants for cold weather
MORE: Scheme builds edible garden carts in unused spaces to bring communities together
