Happy harvest!

The days may be shortening but that doesn’t mean we should wave goodbye to the garden, say horticultural experts at Reaseheath College

September and October are traditionally the months of harvest, when you can celebrate your hard work in the vegetable plot and enjoy beautiful late blooms in the borders. Harvesting crops will keep you busy, and there’s plenty of work to do tidying and maintaining plants and equipment. Here are some key jobs to do right now:

In the garden

• Keep feeding and deadheading hanging baskets and containers, which will often provide colour until the first frosts.

• Deadhead annuals and perennials to extend their flowering season.

• Divide herbaceous perennials. This will keep your plants healthy and vigorous year after year.

• Keep rhododendrons and camelias well watered to ensure that next year’s buds develop well. Rainwater is best for watering these ericaceous plants.

• Clear pond weeds and net ponds before autumn leaf-fall gets underway, to reduce debris.

• Clean out greenhouses ahead of autumn sowing.

• Plant spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, crocus and hyacinths.

Seasonal show-offs

Here are some of our favourite plants o ering autumn colour in the garden

Acer (Japanese Maple) Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding frost. Choose a sheltered spot with well-draining soil. Water regularly during the growing season, especially in dry spells. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and protect roots. Prune lightly to shape the tree in late winter or early spring.

Liquidambar (Sweet Gum) Select a sunny location with well-drained soil. Plant in spring to allow the tree to establish before winter, and keep soil moist during the first year. Liquidambars require little pruning, but if necessary, do so in late winter.

• Rake lawn, aerate and apply autumn fertiliser.

Top Tip

Buying bulbs early ensures that they are fresh – and you’ll get a wider selection too.

Peas and beans store nitrogen in nodules on their roots. When clearing, cut off the tops for the compost heap and dig the roots into the soil, where they’ll act as a natural fertiliser.

• Make the most of glorious foliage, hips, berries and haws in indoor flower arrangements.

• Leave seedheads to provide food and shelter for wildlife.

In the veg plot

• Harvest fruit and regularly pick vegetables while they’re young.

• As your plot becomes vacant, thoroughly dig out weeds and remove all plant debris to reduce the spread of disease.

• Order new fruit trees, canes and bushes. Add a layer of well-rotted compost and plant immediately.

• Net brassicas to prevent birds making a meal out of them!

• For more on Reaseheath’s horticulture and floristry courses see www. reaseheath.ac.uk/horticulture and www.reaseheath.ac.uk/ horticulture-courses-adult-learners

Cornus (Dogwood) Plant in a sunny or partially shaded area with well-draining soil, in early spring or autumn. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and prevent weed growth. In late winter or early spring, cut back the stems to encourage vibrant new growth and maintain a healthy shape.

Euonymus alatus (Burning Bush) Choose a sunny to partially shaded location with well-drained soil. Plant in spring or autumn, and water regularly during the growing season. Prune lightly after flowering to shape the shrub.

Fagus sylvatica (European Beech) Select a sunny to partially shaded site with well-drained soil. Keep the soil consistently moist during the first few years after planting. Lightly prune in late winter or early spring to maintain desired shape.