Top gardening tips for September

Ah, Spring – the sun is shining, the birds are singing and the flowers are blooming. The warmer weather means it is the perfect time to stop hibernating and get out in the garden, and there’s no better time to get on top of some of those jobs you may have been putting off.

Here are our top tips for things you should be doing in the garden during September.

• Despite warmer temperatures during the day, the mornings in Perth are still chilly which means your soil will most likely still be cold. Because of this, it may be worth leaving any mulching until late September or early October so that the soil can enjoy the warm rays of the sun.
• Make sure you also take soil temperature into account when planting any seeds. Summer crops like beans, tomatoes, capsicum, corn, melons, eggplant, zucchini and basil need warmer soil to successfully germinate. To help things along, you can temporarily cover soil with black plastic or use a heated propagation tray.
• Lettuce grows easily during spring, so get some planted and enjoy fresh lettuce in your salads.

• Keep an eye out for aphids on any rose shoots, as they are likely to build up quickly at this time of year. You can control them with a spray from your local hardware store.
• Herbs that are ideal to plant at this time of year include parsley, chives, catnip, sage, oregano, rosemary, thyme and marjoram.
• Spring is also a great time to plant fruits such as blueberries, passionfruit, paw paw, avocados, banana, citrus trees and olives.
• Spring is also a great time to plant sunflower seeds. Find a nice sunny spot in the garden, cover the seeds lightly with dirt and you should see them start to sprout in no time at all.

• Add a burst of colour to your garden beds with annuals such as petunias and marigolds. Make sure to trim off the flowers as they die, which will encourage them to flower again.
• Make sure you get on top of weeds now, or they will get out of control in summer. Give your garden beds and lawn a good weeding and you will hopefully be rewarded during summer for your hard work.

For more information or advice on gardening in September, contact your local garden specialist.