Gardening calendar – September 2010

The days are getting shorter and cooler this autumn, but there’s still much to be done and to enjoy in the garden and veg plot.

 

To summer, when our autumn lawn rescue remedies will have restored your hay to green velvet. Going back to the garden after the August hiatus is something to relish.

PHILIP EDEN’S WEATHER ADVICE

Although daytime temperatures decline slowly during September, quite often it brings an extension of summer. In the South and East, it is, on average, 2pc drier than August. Morning fogs and ground frosts can occur, but the second half of the month usually brings the first gales.

BUNNY GUINNESS’S TOP TIPS

This month I concentrate on cuttings. Apart from my tender perennials, pelargoniums and so on that will quickly form mini plug plants that overwinter well in my cold greenhouse (or on a cool windowsill), I usually take many box, yew, holly and other cuttings now.

They can be rooted in a shady place in open ground, but I get more success by doing them in plug trays using 5 per cent peat-based compost and 5 per cent grit or perlite in a cold frame or cold greenhouse. I tend never to use rooting compound as it has a short shelf-life and is expensive.

Pelargoniums don’t respond to it anyway. The evergreens take a few months to root, but as long as you don’t let the compost get too wet or too dry and you protect from scorching hot days with shade netting you will get a good 5 per cent success rate or more. I have rooted many yew hedges and box this way.

Buy a Compact Plug Plant Trainer at the Telegraph Garden Shop WEEK1

Autumn lawn care and repair checklist

Tools of the trade – fill your compost bin using handy tools

WEEK 2

Topiary what, where, when and how

Project of the month – Build a hedgehog house

Essential garden tasks

WEEK 3

Garden and allotment checklist

How to plant spring bulbs

WEEK 4

Container gardening

Bargain of the month – self-watering Herb Pot

Recipe of the month – Chargrilled sweetcorn with spicy butter

EVENTS

September 8 to 19

A Garden Party to Make a Difference at Clarence House, Marlborough House and Lancaster House, London. The Prince of Wales opens his garden for a 12-day festival. Must book, from £7.5 to £15.

September 18

Harvest Home at Attingham Park, Shropshire. Help collect the crops from the historic kitchen garden and “hang onto your haul”. From 11am to 3pm, park and grounds entry £4.2 adults (1743 78123).

September 25 and 26

RHS Malvern Autumn Show in Worcestershire. Harvest-themed, including giant vegetable competitions. From 9am to 6pm, adult tickets £12 to £14.5 (1684 584924).

Plant Heritage (1483 44754) has 13 plant sales around the country this month.

 

 

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