Garden Jobs for September

GARDEN JOBS

Here are some of the top jobs to be getting on with in the garden this month...

7. Start to reduce frequency of houseplant watering This is to prepare the plant for a period of dormancy over winter

8. Clean out greenhouses and coldframes It may not be the most glamorous of tasks but cleaning out greenhouses/coldframes greatly improves the environment for plants. By removing algae, moss and grime it lets in more light and helps control pests and diseases.

1. Divide Perennials Dividing perennials regularly will ensure healthy, vigorous plants that will continue to perform year after year. It also offers the opportunity to multiply your plants.

2. Pick autumn raspberries Raspberries are tasty and easy to grow. If you grow both summer and autumn-fruiting varieties a few plants will reward you with plenty of fruit from mid-summer until mid-autumn. If you end up with a glut, raspberries also freeze well, and make wonderful jams, sauces and cooked desserts.

3. Harvest Seeds Growing plants from seed is an opportunity to increase the number of plants in your garden for free. Take a paper bag and capture the seeds of hardy annuals and perennials.

4. Harvest main crop potatoes Provided the crop is healthy, leave main crop plants until early to autumn to bulk up (the tubers are prone to slug damage). For storing, lift the potatoes when the tops die back and the skin resists gentle pressure. All potatoes should be gathered by mid-October to avoid weather damage.

5. Net ponds Before leaf fall gets underway net your pond and remove fallen leaves and debris to avoid decomposing vegetation building up in the pond.

Pick autumn raspberries this month

6. Continue to water your pots/ containers and new plants. Collect what you can rather than use mains (tap) water. It's better for plants, including houseplants, and it's free! 9. Cover leafy vegetable crops with bird-proof netting As leafy veggies become larger, and when other food sources are dwindling, birds and particularly pigeons can quickly decimate your crop.

10. Plant spring flowering crops One of the gardening's best and easiest jobs is planting bulbs ready for spring. They are one of the easiest and most rewarding garden plants to grow and give the promise of colour to come next year. Why not attempt a bulb lasagne? You layer up springflowering bulbs to create a display that will lasts for months.