Early Autumn Checklist
Get picking:
From September onwards many tree fruits such as apples and pears come into their own. To test whether a fruit is ready to pick, cup it in the palm of your hand and give it a gentle twist. It should come away easily from the tree.
Sow a new lawn:
While spring is the best time to sow many plants, for lawns September is the ideal month – it’s still warm and there’s plenty of rain. Make sure you match the grass seed you buy to your intended use: ornamental, shaded or hard-wearing family lawn. Feed before or after sowing.
Watch for disease:
Cooler, wetter weather can raise the risk of fungal diseases. Common diseases are mildew and rust, especially on roses. Rake up infected leaves at the end of the season and discard or burn them rather than adding them to the compost heap.
Water as needed:
Not all Septembers are moist. If we’re in for an Indian summer with warm, dry days, you’ll still need to be on hand to water. You can check how moist soil is by digging down a hand trowel’s depth to check at the root zone. Water if it’s dry.
Greenhouse tidy:
By early to mid-October at the latest you will need to bring tender plants under cover. Tidy up the greenhouse in preparation, cleaning surfaces and sterilising nooks and crannies to prevent pests from overwintering.