The end of Summer checklist for your garden
Summer hasn't quite packed its bags yet, but autumn is already knocking at the door. There are still flowers blooming, vegetables to harvest and warm evenings to enjoy, but there's also that unmistakable feeling that things are beginning to change. Leaves are starting to turn, growth is slowing down and the garden is asking for a little attention before the colder, wetter months arrive.
A few simple jobs now can make your garden happier through autumn and save you a fair bit of work when spring comes around.
Give tired plants a little attention
By September, some of your summer plants may be looking a little worse for wear.
Deadheading flowering plants can encourage them to keep blooming for longer, and removing damaged or diseased growth helps keep borders looking tidy. Don't feel that everything needs cutting back, though. Seedheads can provide food for birds and shelter for insects, while leaving some stems standing can add structure and interest to the garden during the colder months.
Sometimes a little less tidying is better for everyone.
Make the most of the harvest
If you've been growing your own this year, September can be a particularly generous month.
Autumn raspberries, apples, pears, plums and plenty of vegetables might all be ready to pick, and you can dig up potatoes before the slugs come for them.
Keep harvesting regularly rather than leaving ripe crops sitting on the plant. Not only does this make the most of what you've grown, it can encourage some plants to keep producing for longer.
And if you've got more produce than you know what to do with, that's where your friends, neighbours and compost bin can all come in rather handy.
Give your soil a helping hand
When the weather cools is a great time to start thinking about the soil beneath your feet.
Adding homemade compost or other organic matter to beds and borders can improve soil structure and help it hold on to moisture. It's also a good opportunity to make sure your composting setup is ready for the months ahead, when fallen leaves and garden cuttings can quickly start piling up.
The RHS specifically recommends getting compost bins ready for Autumn, when fallen leaves can quickly fill them.
Plant something for spring
Just because summer is ending doesn't mean planting season is over.
As Autumn comes, it's the perfect time to start thinking ahead to next spring, with spring-flowering bulbs becoming available and ready to plant. Tulips, daffodils, crocuses and other favourites can all be planted into the soil now, giving them plenty of time to establish before winter.
It's also a good time to plant new perennials, particularly towards the end of the month when the soil is still warm but moisture levels are beginning to increase.
Give your garden structures a check
Autumn and winter weather can be hard work for garden structures, so now is a good time to spot any little problems before they become bigger ones.
Check sheds and garden storage for leaks, make sure roofs and gutters are clear and tighten up anything that's looking a little loose. If you have wooden structures that need protecting, taking advantage of any remaining dry weather can make this an ideal time for maintenance.
If your garden storage needs an upgrade, take a look at green roof storage products.
A few minutes of maintenance now can save you from discovering a soggy surprise halfway through November.
Keep watering for now
Don't pack the watering can away just yet.
Newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials still need watering while they're establishing. Using collected rainwater is a great way to keep plants hydrated while reducing your reliance on mains water.
Your garden might be heading into autumn, but some plants are still very much thirsty for attention.