SEPTEMBER CLIPPINGS

Sow land cress, winter lettuce, mizuna and rocket early in the month

for winter salad leaves. Have a tunnel cloche standing by for colder weather.

Look out for good young plants of sweet Williams which, set in border gaps,

will flower next June and for a will flower next June and for a couple of years afterwards. Long couple of years afterwards. Long stemmed, they also make great stemmed, they also make great cut flowers.

Sow hardy annuals as and when the soil is moistened by rain.

Have a go at ‘chaos’ gardening, for which you mix ‘chaos’ gardening, for which you mix together seeds of annual flowers, veg together seeds of annual flowers, veg together seeds of annual flowers, veg together seeds of annual flowers, veg and herbs to broadcast and rake in. 

Deadhead dahlias

– they still have a lot to give this month.

Plant allium bulbs

(ornamental onions) to bloom next June and July.

DESIGN KNOW-HOW

We’ve added many plants to our garden over the last ten years. Now some are hiding others or shading them out. Any tips on dealing with this?

A desire to experience as many plants as possible can lead to overcrowding. Starting with trees and shrubs, consider removing a few (hire a tree surgeon for larger trees). Prune shrubs by cutting one third of their stems to lighten them while retaining a natural shape. Consider raising a few canopies by cutting lower branches to make more bed space. Move badly spaced younger shrubs when soil is moist but not too wet or frozen. Lift overcrowded herbaceous perennials, divide and replant smaller portions.