September is a great time to get out into the garden and there are a few tasks that you should prioritise – including pruning and trimming, according to gardening experts
Gardening experts have revealed the crucial garden tasks for this month – and pruning tops the list.
Father and son duo Leonardo and Domenico Musceo, from local services marketplace Airtasker, explained: “Pruning plays an important role in the maintenance of a healthy plant and this time of year is the ideal time to carry out this process for two common plants in our gardens, lavender and rambling roses.
“Late summer spells the end of the flowering period for lavender. By forgetting to carry out this job, you risk it turning leggy and twiggy.” Explaining the perks of timely trimming, they shared: “Pruning encourages a more compact shape and promotes new growth, which helps the plant maintain a tidy appearance as it heads into autumn.”
On top of pruning, the experts revealed that it’s also perfect time for propagating lavender from the cuttings. Pointing out how to do it, they said: “For your rambling roses, it’s important to remember they flower on old wood, which is the growth from the previous year.”
They added: “After they’ve finished flowering, you should cut the flowered stems back by about one-third of their length as well as remove some of the older, woody stems.” Emphasising the benefits, they added: “Not only will this help to improve air circulation but it will also encourage new growth too.”
September is an ideal month to trim any non-fruiting trees as the sap starts to slow down and the tree begins to prepare for winter. This reduces stress on the plant and lowers the risk of disease. Acers can also benefit from a trim in September, but this is mainly to maintain their shape.
If your plants are susceptible to cold weather, it’s wise to consider relocating them in the next few weeks. This could be to greenhouses, conservatories or under horticultural fleece. It’s also recommended for gardeners to insulate terracotta pots with bubble wrap to prevent them from cracking in the cold.
