With the close of the month coming we are well on our way to welcoming in Autumn and preparing for Winter. It has been a very productive year for nearly all the plants with a huge haul of fruit and veg. In times gone past it was said that such an abundant harvest would mean a very hard winter to come but hopefully that won't be the case!
There are still plenty of jobs to do before we batten down the garden hatches for the Winter though so here is just a quick checklist for the more pressing jobs.
Watering - Everything is in full fruit and leaf at the moment so regular watering is an absolute must. It can be tricky on the busy days to keep on top of it but I find leaving a small watering can or jug beside the kitchen sink can help me remember to at least do my houseplants while I wait for the kettle to boil.
For larger gardens consider getting a simple irrigation system such as the Flopro Cascade Oscillating Sprinkler System, then once it's set up all you need to do is turn on the tap.
Ripening - Tomatoes especially won't ripen unless they get plenty of sun so if you have any in containers that are easily moved try and move them to an area in the garden that gets the most sun.
Plums, Damsons, Apples, Pears and any other hanging fruit should be thinned of any smaller stunted fruit to allow the healthier ones to reach their full potential.
Courgettes, Marrows, Cucumbers and any other ground laying vegetables should be picked as soon as they are big enough to prevent discolouration and rot. This will also discourage disease and pests.
Harvest Onions and Carrots - Onions can be lifted and allowed to dry on the ground outside before storing and carrots should be lifted and cleaned before storing somewhere cool and dry.
Deadheading and Trimming - With the exceptionally mild weather, some deadheading can encourage some late blooming so it's well worth getting out now and doing it a little early to squeeze the most out of the flowering season. Deadheading will also help your plants to direct energy into where it's more needed and prevent pests.
Lavender should be trimmed back to prevent woodiness and encourage bushier growth.
Hedge Tidying - Hedges especially smaller ones such as low Buxus should be topped regularly, it's growing incredibly fast at the moment but opt for regular trimming rather than hard cutting as disease can creep in if it's cut down to the harder, thicker growth at the moment.
Seed Collection - While you are out deadheading it is worth collecting the seed from any of your more favoured plants for sowing next year. Envelopes are perfect for collecting them and can be clearly marked as to what they are. Be sure you do your collection on a dry day and that any seeds you collect are dry, disease free and fully mature. You can save an awful lot of money on the likes of wildflowers with this method and you then also know exactly what to expect from your seed packet!
Finally be sure to leave water out for the birds, it's a thirsty time for them in this heat and they'll thank you by showing up to your garden and eating all the hungry caterpillars and other veg stealing critters!
