More rain as we move into autumn, for those who have sown an Autumn lawn it will be just what is needed but for those grain crops still to harvest not so good, tomorrow will hopefully be another warm autumn day.
With nights cooling and days shortening it will not be long before the major leaf drop and Gardeners with rakes in hand.
Lift branches on large spreading trees to let more light on gardens and lawns, trim back climbers like wisteria, jasmine, and honeysuckle, trim hedges/shrubs,
Keep deadheading dahlia, petunias, and geraniums to keep them flowering through until the first frost. Continue to remove spent summer annuals so the ground can be worked ready for winter flowering annuals like primulas, wall flowers, polyantha, pansies & violas. Fork in some compost and wet beds well before replanting. Be on the lookout for useful self-sown seedlings like foxglove, lupin, cineraria, hollyhock, and primula melodies, I am finding quite a few of them, they can be transplanted now to settle in before winter.
Peony roses are on offer now, they are worth planting with their big showy blooms taking over from the spring rhododendron displays, be careful when planting not to disturb the new shoots (eyes) forming. A peony root to be planted should contain at least 3 eyes that will eventually become stems. A root with only 1 or 2 eyes will still grow, but it will take longer to flower, they kike a good winter chilling so roots should be planted relatively close to the soil surface; only about 2-3 inches deep. Plant with the eyes facing upwards and the roots spread out. Peonies prefer sunny, well-drained, slightly acidic soil and benefit from compost added when planting, they can remain in the same spot for upwards of 70 years.
Lift gladioli now and store them in a dry place, if left in the ground they may be attacked by pests.
Empty my compost areas in readiness for all the incoming leaves to start again by layering lawn clippings, a good amount of animal manure and organic matter from garden clippings, and moisture and oxygen to create the necessary bacteria to start things working. Piling in grass clippings without layering is only going to suppress the oxygen needed. With the heat and rain compost will be well cooking before winter. Trees, shrubs, plants, and bulbs take so much from the soil during each growing season, that sooner than later gardens need more than Man-made fertilizers which work by feeding the plants and promoting growth and in doing so deplete the soil of humus.
Lawns: Get new lawns sown now, the cooler nights and mornings are allowing the moisture to remain longer after watering and a strike will happen pretty fast.
Vegetables: Good growth is still happening with the rain we have been getting, pumpkins and corn should be ready to harvest soon, dry off pumpkin and squash skins before storing them in a cool dry place. This is a good time for planting above ground annual crops that produce their seeds outside like lettuce, spinach, celery, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and grain green crops for digging in.
Cheers, Linda.
Layering compost.
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