JOBS AHEAD
Late summer-flowering shrubs like Mexican orange blossom (Choisya), mock orange (Philadelphus), Weigela, and Wisteria can be pruned now after flowering. Prune Wisteria by removing all the whippy side shoots to around five leaves from the main stem.
Prepare areas of your lawn for re-seeding in September. Early autumn is an ideal time to fix bald patches or establish a new lawn. Remove any perennial weeds and stones and level the surface to be resown.
Collect ripened seeds from plants you want to grow next year. Store in a cool, dry place in envelopes labelled with the plant name. It is a good idea to leave some seeds on your plants if you want them to self-seed into the surrounding soil.
To ensure floral displays continue to bloom for as long as possible, regularly deadhead spent flowers on roses, dahlias, petunias and anything else in bloom. Once a plant has flowered and set seed, it will stop flowering unless prevented by regular dead heading.
Keep watering rhododendrons and camellias to make sure that next year's buds develop well.
Cuttings of tender perennials like pelargoniums and fuchsias can be taken and will quickly root at this time of year to be overwintered on a windowsill.
Hardy geraniums will be starting to look a bit straggly now so can be cut back to tidy up and encourage another burst of fresh foliage.
Onions should be ready to harvest by early September. As soon as the top growth goes brown, bend it over to aid ripening, then ease the bulbs out of the earth on a dry day. Rest on the soil or on a drying rack to dry completely before storing in a light spot.
Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts can be planted out now so that they are ready to be harvested throughout the winter months.
Pick courgettes when they are about 10cm (4”) long in order to encourage more to grow and prevent them turning into tough, woody marrows.
Cut down canes of summer fruiting raspberries once they have finished cropping and tie in new canes to supports.
Autumn fruiting blackberries and loganberries will be ready to harvest this month. If you have a glut of fruit, spread it out and freeze on trays for a couple of hours then bag it up in the freezer to use over the winter.
Lift and pot up strawberry runners which have rooted in the ground. Sever the stem between the runner and mother plant, then prise it carefully from the soil. Remove any dead leaves and pot into a small container with regular compost or replant into the ground.
Side shoots on tomatoes should be pinched out regularly and leading shoots continued to be tied to supports. Remove the lower level leaves from your tomato plant to help reduce the risk of disease. Watering should continue regularly and a high potash fertiliser feed applied weekly.
Tips of cucumber side shoots should be pinched out just two leaves beyond any fruit that may be developing. Pick fruit on a regular basis as old fruit left on the plants can affect further flowering.
Now is a good time to sow winter lettuce, for a year-round supply of tasty salad greens.
Cut back perennial herbs, like thyme and oregano, to encourage a new flush of tasty leaves to harvest before winter.
Established clumps of chives can be lifted and divided now.
Keep up the good work!
