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As the first early morning mists signal the seamless join between late summer & early autumn, the industrious gardener's mind turns towards change in more than a seasonal sense. This is the optimum time of the year to introduce significant alterations into your horticultural domain. From now until the first serious frosts start, new plants will get the best start in damp conditions, & annual bedding, which is currently in its last throes, is just about ready to be supplanted by the colourful palette of spring bulbs for next year (buy them now to avoid missing out on the ones you want). If your desire for change leans towards the more solid forms of landscaping, September is very often the best time for large building projects such as patios or walls as the weather is (usually) more helpful. Long(ish) days in cooler temperatures without the threat of damaging frost makes this month ideal.
September can also be a problematical month in the garden as most of the summer highlights are fading, or producing a last feeble flourish before winter, & the rich hues of autumn are not yet gracing our gardens. There are some plants that save their best for this month, & as such (being flanked by summer & autumn highlights) are often overlooked. If you have a lack of colour in your borders now then the following plants will give your garden that late season lift. By far & away the stars of September are the Asters. Usually referred to as Michelmas Daisies, the breadth & beauty of the Aster genus is completely undersold, & I certainly think that any garden that does not contain at least one member of this underrated family is missing out. Aster x frikartii 'Mönch' has wonderful lavender-blue single flowerheads that last throughout the month & well into October, whilst the different varieties of Aster ericoides offer massed tiny flowerheads in white, pale pink & yellow. Aster turbinellus displays a similar mass of pale blue flowers held on dark stems. If your tastes tend towards less restrained colours then cast your eyes over the Aster nova-belgii or nova-angliae species, which have a wide range of varieties from vivid pink through to white & blue. Another herbaceous star of the late summer is the genus Rudbeckia. The best known cultivar is commonly referred to as Black-eyed Susan, which is understandable its 'proper' name is Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'. This striking yellow flower is a dependable & spectacular addition to the border, displaying on 2ft stems, & lasting for the greater part of this month. If your need is for greater height then Rudbeckia laciniata gives the Sunflower a run for its money up to 10ft but this giant should be kept at the back of any border as it can flop over without supporting plants around it. As regular readers are aware, I am a great fan of ornamental grasses, & this month can be when the taller species & varieties can really come into their own. If you sit on your patio soaking up the last rays of summer as the sun dips towards the horizon, then I can think of no better frame to capture the beauty of such a moment than the golden curtain of spent seed heads of Stipa gigantea. Next month I'll give you some tips & advice on soil conditioning, because October is time to ready your garden for winter, so get your digging muscles warmed up & save pounds on expensive trips to the gym. |
