Pat’s 10 jobs for September 2025

1. Well at last the rain has arrived and is ready to drown all our plants! You may need to empty those saucers you put under pots for some of your more tender plants before they drown or rot…

2. This month and next is a good time to cut down and split many perennials ready for our sale at the Horn Fair on 19 October which soon comes round. I split sedum and Hesperantha the other day. I needed two forks back to back but made about fifteen plants! Check which plants are suitable for splitting in Autumn as some are better done in Spring.

3. Increase your supply of Pelargoniums by taking cuttings now below a leaf node. It also provides insurance for next year. We always love unusual varieties for the sales table if you can spare them.

4. You can start planting spring flowering bulbs now but it’s too early for tulips which should be done in late October or November.

5. Hopefully you managed to collect some seed before the rain came but if not, wait for a dry day and then dry on a warm windowsill before placing in paper bags or envelopes.

6. If plants have succumbed to powdery mildew remove the infected leaves as soon as possible or cut the plants back really hard. Hopefully they’ll recover for next year but try and improve air circulation.

7. Everyone says this is a brilliant year for cucumbers which need plenty of water but as usual mine succumbed to snails…

8. Keep picking beans which are producing like mad at the moment but maybe keep few pods of a favourite variety to go to seed and save money for next year.

9. Harvest autumn fruiting raspberries but leave cutting down stems until February.

10. Leave some windfall apples that are bruised or damaged on the ground for garden birds.

Happy gardening all!

Pat K