Written by John Boon (Burpham Gardening Club)

September & October 2020

There’s plenty to do in the garden in September & October. Here are some hints and tips from Burpham Gardening Club who are hoping to resume there meetings.

We intend to restart our monthly talks on Tuesday 27th October at 7.30pm in the Village Hall when Nigel Choat will be taking us on a trip along the ‘Wey side and woodlands’. Subscriptions which we were unable to collect in April will now be collected in September at the reduced rate of £2.00 per household to allow for the missed meetings during the Lockdown. The Trading Hut remains closed, if there is anything that you require please call 01483 874123.

Things to do in the garden in September.

• Enjoy your garden whilst it is still at its best but as the evenings are drawing in we should be on the lookout for a frost by the end of this month in the weather forecast.
• On sunny days continue to collect the seed of Annuals, except F1 Hybrids, for sowing next Spring.
• Cuttings can still be taken from tender perennials such as Fuchsia and Pelargonium.
• Evergreen hedges should be given a final trim for the year.
• Daffodils and Narcissi should be planted this month for a good Spring display. Remember that the bigger the bulb the larger the flower.
• Keep Camellias and Rhododendrons well watered to ensure that there is good bud formation for flowering next Spring.

Enjoy your garden whilst it is still at its best but as the evenings are drawing in we should be on the lookout for a frost.

• A late sowing of Turnip and Spinach can still be made.
• Plant out over wintering Onion sets and Spring Cabbage.
• Harvest Main Crop Potatoes and Sweetcorn, continue to pick Runner Beans and Courgettes.
• Cut out fruited canes of Raspberry and Loganberry.

Things to do in the garden in October.

• At the first sign of frost all tender plants should be brought inside and kept in a frost free place.
• Cut back and divide Herbaceous Perennials, once Dahlias have had their leaves blackened by frost they should be lifted, dried off and stored in a frost free place.
• Spring Bedding plants can now be planted out.
• Climbing and tall Rose bushes can now be pruned to minimise damage from wind rock.
• Tulip bulbs should be ordered or purchased for planting in November.
• Towards the end of the month Sweet Peas can be sown under glass.
• Now is the time to plant up pots of Hyacinth and ‘Paperwhite’ Narcissi for a Christmas display, keeping the bulbs in a cool dark place until they begin to sprout. To flower together Hyacinth bulbs all need to be the same colour.
• Garlic cloves can be planted this month just below the surface of the soil 15cm apart with the tip of the clove upright.

Now is the time to plant up pots of Hyacinth and ‘Paperwhite’ Narcissi for a Christmas display.

• Rhubarb crowns can be lifted and divided.
• Now is a good time to plant hedges and trees.
• The lawn should be scarified and then an Autumn dressing applied just before rain is forecast, this is an ideal time to lay turf and to reseed the lawn.
• The watering of Houseplants should be reduced as the days shorten.