Gardeners have been urged to complete several vital tasks this September, with horticulturist Guy Barter advising that cover crops must be sown by mid-September for good results. His guidance comes as rain returns to some parts of the country after a dry spell in which Wales experienced on-and-off heatwave conditions, leaving certain plants struggling beneath extended hot and dry periods.
Sowing cover crops while soil is moist
Barter told The i Paper: "This early autumn is ideal for sowing cover crops once the soil is moist enough." He explained that these crops pick up unused soil nutrients and prevent them being washed away and lost to potentially cause pollution. "Their roots will also improve soil," he added.
He also noted that some cover crops make excellent plants for pollinators when they flower in spring, highlighting phacelia tanacetifolia, or fiddleneck, with its abundant blue flowers, and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), which bears masses of red flowers valued by bees.
Barter added: "These must be sown by mid-September for good results but rye, ryegrass and wheat (from birdseed) can be sown until November, although sooner is better."
Flower beds and tree care
For flower beds that won't remain waterlogged throughout winter, he recommended covering exposed soil with annual flowers such as alyssum, calendula and candytuft (Iberis). "Sow as early in September as possible," he told the publication.
He also advised: "While the soil is not too wet, take the opportunity to remove grass and other vegetation from around the base of new trees."
Alan Titchmarsh's five September plants
Alan Titchmarsh has named five plants he believes gardeners should focus on this September. With rainfall returning moisture to the soil, he says conditions are now perfect for introducing late-summer flowering plants to beds and borders.
He highlights Crocosmia, Echinacea, Sedum 'Hot Stuff', Kniphofia (aka red hot poker) 'Papaya Popsicle' and, his top pick, the dahlia. "Dahlias were out of fashion for years. They were thought to be vulgar. Heaven knows who by because I've always loved them," he said.
"They grow from a tuber and you plant it in spring in your beds and borders. Up it comes and flowers like this from midsummer right the way through to the frosts of November."
Monty Don's bank holiday cuttings advice
Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don has also shared last-minute tasks to tackle over the bank holiday weekend. He suggests that August offers the perfect opportunity for taking cuttings, which involves removing a small portion of plant from the healthiest specimens already thriving in the garden.
According to the Liverpool Echo, he said: "As August progresses, semi-ripe cuttings taken from the current season's wood that has started to harden off are increasingly available and also increasingly likely to root quickly."
Monty recommends selecting strong, healthy stems from flowers or flower buds and placing the cuttings in a polythene bag so they can be potted up immediately. When preparing the cutting, he advises stripping away the lower leaves and any side shoots, retaining less than an inch of foliage. Using a sharp knife, make a clean, precise cut before planting it in a container filled with gritty compost or pure perlite.
He notes that nothing elaborate is required to promote healthy root development, as the plant primarily needs oxygen and water. Good drainage is therefore vital, helping to guarantee the cutting receives adequate moisture without becoming waterlogged.
