September in the garden: an elaborate to-do list for all gardening enthusiasts

It's time for September! Summer is coming to an end, and temperatures are dropping again. The busiest gardening time of the year is past us, of course, but your green fingers will still come in handy in September! From all kinds of fruits and vegetables that can still be harvested to all sorts of beautiful flowers that are now in bloom; Your garden isn’t done surprising you with its beauty and generosity at all. Are you curious about what to expect this month? Read all about September in your garden in this handy overview.

Planting and sowing

Although autumn is fast approaching, you can still plant and sow plenty of crops in your garden. For example, many winter vegetables can still be grown, and September is also a suitable month for planting flower bulbs. Curious what else you can add to your garden this month?

In the vegetable garden

Even this late in the year, there is still a lot to add to your vegetable garden. Many leafy vegetables grow quickly and can therefore be rapidly sown. For example, think of spinach, kale, chicory, lettuce or lamb's lettuce. If you would like to be able to get some radishes, arugula, cress or romaine lettuce from your vegetable garden, you can quickly sow it now as well. Nevertheless, most of the work in your vegetable garden this month will be harvest work.

Outside of the vegetable garden

There is enough to do outside the vegetable garden as well! The earth is still nice and warm and therefore still offers all kinds of possibilities. Here's a handy to-do list: 

• Perennials can very well be planted in September. The earth's warmth will help them develop strong roots so they’ll get through the winter without trouble. In the spring, they will start growing up. 
• If you still want to sow a new lawn, you can get to it right now, as the seeds still germinate just fine. September can still be quite a hot and rainless month, so don't forget to water in case of drought. 
• Have you previously planted biennials but not yet in their best position? Then move them this month.
• If you've planted peonies that have had a disappointing bloom this year, now is the time to give them a better spot. 
• Plant some evergreen shrubs and conifers quickly. They still have plenty of time to develop a robust root system with which they can easily survive the coming cold. 
• Containers with colourful summer bloomers in the garden or on the balcony will have finished flowering and wilted by now. Remove those and replace them with beautiful fall bloomers! Read on for a handy top 10 plants that bear the most gorgeous flowers this September.

Not only are there still all kinds of greenery to plant and sow in late summer, but September is also very suitable for planting flower bulbs! Flower bulbs that bloom in early spring and spring are best planted now so they can peacefully adapt to their new surroundings and have the best possible chance next year. Here you will find a handy overview of the best-known flower bulbs that you can plant in September and when you can expect them to come up.

• Snowdrop: flowers in January and February
• Winter aconite: flowers in January and February
• Crocus: flowers in February and March
• Spring snowflake: flowers in February and March
• Narcissus: flowers in March and April
• Scilla: flowers in March and April
• Hyacinth: flowers in April
• Common grape hyacinth: flowers in April
• Snake's head fritillary: flowers in April and May
• Tulip: flowers in April and May
• Summer snowflake: flowers in April and May
• Lily-of-the-valley: flowers in May
• Bluebell: flowers in May and June
• Allium: flowers from May to July

Harvesting

There is still a lot of harvesting to do in September, and your vegetable garden will keep yielding lots of produce. In addition, you will probably be left with a bit more harvest than you can eat so quickly, which means valuable tips to keep vegetables and other products from your garden fresh for as long as possible will surely come in handy! 

What are you getting from the vegetable garden this month? Enough! For example: 

• Apples and pears! The first varieties are now ripe. 
• hazelnuts 
• onions 
• all kinds of carrots, parsnips and, for example, also turnip-rooted parsley
• tomatoes 
• bell peppers 
• peppers 
• cucumbers, aubergines and courgettes 
• summer endive 
• beans 
• sweet corn
• radishes, lettuce varieties and cress that you had sown a little earlier can now be harvested. Any of these crops you’ve sowed this month need to stay in a little longer, of course. 

Learn to get through the winter on your fall harvest! You do this by being smart with your crop and storing it in innovative and sustainable ways. How can you best proceed to enjoy your beautiful vegetable garden as optimally as possible, even when everything is cold and barren outside? Here you will find the best ways to store your harvest.

• Store your peas and beans in glass jars. This looks nice, helps you keep an overview and helps you to dose your portions when you want to use them. 
• Carrots, potatoes and onions should be stored in a dry place. Then these vegetables can be kept for a very long time. This can be done, for example, in a box with sand. Leave the soil on these vegetables after harvesting and do not rinse them to minimise contact with any moisture. 
• The best way to store almost all vegetables is simply by freezing them. This is the most commonly used storage method because it is easy, and the vegetables’ quality does not deteriorate. However, it is best to blanch these vegetables in advance to help them keep their taste and nutritiousness even better.
• It is best to dry herbs to be used throughout the winter. 
• The only type of crop that really can't be stored for a long time is the leafy vegetables. Most types of lettuce only keep well in the fridge for a short time, so use these as soon as possible.

Growth and blooming

September might not be all that warm and summery, but enjoying beautiful flowers and keeping your garden colourful and fragrant is still very much possible. Of course, many different types of flowers bloom this month, but here are the top 10 best September bloomers!

1. Autumn aster: Known for its daisy-like bright purple flowers.
2. Autumn Anemone: Characterized by lovely flowers in pastel pink and white tones.
3. Garden cyclamen: A popular bedding plant with exotic-looking pink flowers.
4. Aconitum (Wolf’s Bane): Everyone knows the deep purple plumes of this popular garden plant.
5. Hardy Fuchsias: This plant with the iconic bright pink flowers can be found in many a garden.
6. Yellow Coneflower: Impossible not to be happy with the sea-golden flowers of this beautiful plant.
7. Skimmia and Other Berry Carriers: Flowers and berries can look gorgeous too.
8. Chinese Gentian: The lush blue flowers of this bedding plant are an eye-catcher in any garden.
9. Orpine: A beautiful plant that produces clouds of tiny pink flowers in the fall.
10. Autumn Sage: The flowers of the autumn sage look exotic and come in various bright colours.

Pruning and cutting

During September, your garden doesn't require a lot of pruning or clipping, although you will still have to deal with a few familiar chores; keep pruning plants if they have dead leaves, flowers, stems or branches. This will stimulate further plant flowering and keep your garden looking lush and well-kept. This is especially important with roses because roses can continue to flower for significantly longer. In addition, if you have fruit trees in the garden that you have yet to prune, this must be done before mid-September. You can also largely stay away from your lawn because it will no longer grow so quickly. Don't forget to water it in case of drought.

Garden care

It is always essential to take good care of your garden, and therefore also in September. What should you pay attention to this month? 

• Stop fertilising. Because plants are naturally accustomed to dealing with a time of little nutrition and growth in the winter, you must consider this rhythm when providing them with additional nutrients. In winter, plants go into a " hibernation " state where they grow little and absorb few nutrients. 
• There is less sun and wind in September than in previous months, which means water evaporates less quickly. From now on, you can also water less.
• Garden waste such as dead leaves, twigs and flowers are beneficial for the soil and are therefore best left where you find them. This waste forms a layer that keeps the earth warm and protects its nutrients. Make this layer even thicker on purpose by mulching! Compost is beneficial for this. If you want to rake your garden, don't throw it away, but leave it in a heap in the corner of your garden. You can read why that is a good idea below.

Garden animals

The local fauna is preparing for autumn, so give them a hand! Have you decided to rake your garden waste together at last? Then that pile of dead leaves in your garden makes for an excellent winter shelter for all kinds of critters, like various insects and even hedgehogs. Check the nest boxes in your garden, see if they are still intact and clean them if necessary. This way, birds can find shelter in your garden this winter.

Do you have a pond? Then there is still some extra work ahead. The pond water will remain at the right temperature for a while, so if fish live in your pond, they will most certainly still need to be fed in September. Also, keep an eye on your pond plants; some aquatic plants proliferate and will cover the entire surface of the water before you know it. Others die and begin to rot in the water. Remove withered plant parts as soon as possible. Is your pond close to a tree already starting to drop its leaves this month? Then keep your pond extra clean and remove this waste from the water. If necessary, stretch a net over the pond to catch the leaves.

And finally…

Great, you’re almost done! Finish up your garden work this month by cleaning up and storing away your summer gear. Swimming pools, garden furniture, trampolines and similar items can be returned to the shed by now. This also applies to houseplants that have spent their summer outside. Because temperatures can drop suddenly this month, it is a good idea to put them indoors again. While you’re at it, take any temperature-sensitive container plants with you.