This is the SEPTEMBER installment of Horticulture Week's month-by-month guide to essential maintenance and management tasks for parks, gardens and grounds maintenance staff.
Office
- Update pesticide records
- Update sowing records
- Organise holiday cover as needed
- Order plants from nurseries, especially roses, and look at seed catalogues
- Organise emergency numbers for contractors to deal with urgent gale-damage
- General
- Control weeds, pests and diseases
- Spot treat perennial weeds
- Water as needed
- Make sure leaf collectors are functioning and prepare compost bins
- Begin clearing autumn debris as it arises
- Check drainage pipes and ditches ahead of autumn rain
Trees, shrubs and hedges
- Inspect for wind damage and check ties and stakes
- Move evergreen shrubs
- Plant container-grown trees and shrubs
Beds and borders
- Deadhead faded flowers
- Plant out spring-flowering biennials
- Dig clay soils before they become too wet
- Plant new perennials
- Continue collecting seed from perennials
- Support Michaelmas daisies
- Cut down and divide perennials that have finished flowering
- Lift tender perennials before they succumb to frosts
- Add organic material to soil
- Sow hardy annuals for next year
Wall plants
- Prune climbing roses
Bulbs
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs
- Plant bulbs to naturalise in grass areas
- Lift gladioli towards the end of the month
Containers
- Stop feeding trees and shrubs grown in containers
- Plant up with spring bedding
- Move tender subjects indoors
- Plant bulbs
Greenhouses and conservatories
- Check for panes loosened by gales
- Reduce watering and ventilation
- Clean and start preparing for winter
- Service heating system
- Remove shading if not already done
Water features
- Inspect regularly for algae bloom and treat accordingly
- Top up if weather remains hot and sunny
*Jobs should only be undertaken when ground and weather conditions are suitable and will vary according to location and may vary significantly from year to year. And remember that while the year nicely divides into 12 months, activities often overlap.
