September marks “La Rentrée,” the start of the academic year in France, and a fresh beginning for gardeners too. After the heat of July and August, it’s time to dive back into the garden with renewed energy.
Seasonal Garden Beauty
September’s garden has a unique charm with seed heads, fading perennials, and grasses taking center stage. Early autumn colors begin to appear on trees and shrubs, all illuminated by the golden light of September evenings. This month offers a perfect opportunity to rejuvenate and prepare the garden for the coming seasons.
Key Gardening Activities
- Rejuvenate Beds and Borders:September is ideal for refreshing garden beds. Remove, divide, or relocate plants that are past their prime or unhappy in their current spot. Plant seedlings and cuttings nurtured over the past year before the soil cools in late October. Autumn planting ensures better establishment and resilience to drought next year.
- Order and Plant Bulbs:Order spring bulbs early to avoid missing out on popular varieties. Store them in a cool, dry place until planting. Crocus, daffodils, and muscari can be planted in September, followed by fritillarias and alliums in October, and tulips in November. Reliable suppliers like Farmer Gracie and Peter Nyssen can ship bulbs to France.
- Hedge and Shrub Maintenance:September and October are perfect for trimming evergreen hedges and shaping large evergreen shrubs. Control the growth of Italian cypress trees by regular trimming, especially if they are not the slender ‘Totem’ variety.
Vegetable and Fruit Harvesting
- Ongoing Harvest:Continue harvesting the last of the tomatoes, chillies, pumpkins, blackberries, autumn raspberries, beans, beetroot, aubergines, courgettes, and basil. Salad leaves can still be sown, and chard planted a few months ago is ready for harvest. Cavolo nero sown earlier will mature after the first frosts. Watch out for hornets attracted to figs on trees.
- Soil Enrichment:After harvesting beans and peas, leave the roots in the ground to decompose and enrich the soil with nitrogen. This nutrient is crucial for the growth of leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, and chard.
- Feed the Hens:Garden waste like gone-to-seed lettuce heads and overripe tomatoes are a treat for hens. Monitor them as they begin to molt and stop laying eggs in preparation for winter.
Preparing for Winter
- Walnut Collection:Dry walnuts thoroughly before storing them to ensure they last through the year. Harvest walnuts quickly to prevent wild boars from raiding the garden. Manage the abundance of quince and pumpkins through creative recipes and preservation methods.
Autumn is a delightful season, full of tasks and anticipation for the colder months. Embrace the beauty and productivity of September in the garden with Seeds Wild.
