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Late summer
This is the time to take notice of possible improvements
that could be made to the herbaceous border when
replanting in autumn. Cut suitable flowers for
drying, such as helichrysum
and poppy seed
heads, and hang them head downwards to dry for
indoor displays in winter. Continue watering the
garden if drought threatens.
TREES
AND SHRUBS
Take semi-hardwood cuttings of shrubs including
hydrangea, cytisus, escallonia, euonymus, hypericum,
ceanothus, philadelphus and shrubby sporaea.
Layer rhododendrons if not done in spring.
Take leaf-bud or semi-hardwood cuttings of camellias.
In dry weather, water newly planted trees well
around their trunks – they can take several
gallons a week.
CLIMBERS
Take semi-hardwood cuttings of Solanum crispum
and other woody climbers.
ROSES
Order now for delivery of bare-rooted plants in
late autumn.
Feed with fertiliser to give last blooms a boost.
When the last flowers of rambling roses have faded,
remove those stems which bore flowers earlier
in the year; new young shoots will have time to
mature before winter arrives.
HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS
If asters show signs of mildew, spray with a systematic
fungicidal solution before flowering.
Sow newly harvested meconopsis
seeds for next year’s flowering.
Take cuttings of violas,
choosing young, healthy, non-flowering basal shoots.
Deadhead faded flowers, cut off tall weak stems
from plants that have finished flowering, but
leave foliage.
Plant autumn crocuses
and colchicums.
ALPINES
Complete taking cuttings of healthy, non-flowering
lateral shoots of helianthemum
and arabis.
WATER AND BOG PLANTS
This out oxygenating plants such as water milfoil
and water thyme to keep within bounds.
BULBS, CORMS AND TUBERS
Feed dahlias and
support tall cultivars.
Propagate lilies
using stem bulbils.
ANNUALS AND BIENNIALS
Continue deadheading to prolong the flowering
period. Leave those which form decorative seed
heads or from which you will gather seed.
Sow pansy and violet seeds for winter and spring
flowering.
Take cutting from non-flowering shoots of pelargoniums.
LAWNS
Prepare ground if seeding next year.
Apply summer dressing of lawn fertiliser.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Check all supports and ties on plants and replace
any that are broken or missing.
Next:
Early Autumn
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