What to do this Month?

September is here and we are determined not to give in and continue enjoying our summer, despite what the weather tells us. Harvesting should be keeping you very busy this month so you'll have to roll up your sleeves and brave the elements. Doug and the team have put together some helpful tips to keep you busy this month and crack on. The days start to get shorter and darker but that won't stop us.

Deadheading is something we never get tired of telling our customers. It's such a simple and sometimes forgotten task due to the repetitiveness and frequency. You should be deadheading your dahlias and roses to keep flowers coming. You could also put pruning into this category of forgotten tasks. Those climbing roses should be carefully pruned in September and something that needs to be done. Do remember that if they are repeating their flowering this year it's better to leave them until later in the year.

Now is a great time to be purchasing and in some cases planting your Spring and Christmas Bulbs. We stress this every month but planning really is what it is all about. 

That Lawn needs tending to

Don’t forget to give you lawn some tender loving care by raking, as well as aerating and feeding with an autumn lawn fertiliser; our Westland SafeLawn natural lawn feed is fantastic for safely feeding your lawn. This will help develop healthier and stronger roots.

For the best results you really should apply just after mowing, so get out there and do it while the sun is occasionally shining. You will thank us later.

Some Home Grown Recipes

We are always telling you to harvest those crops but sometimes what are you meant to do with them all. Why not create some Rasberry Jam.

Why not try this Raspberry Jam recipe

Ingredients (makes about 3 jam jars & keeps for about 6 months)

  • 500g raspberries (fresh from the garden)
  • 500g white granulated sugar (you might need to purchase this unless you have been growing sugar canes)
  • Zest of a lemon (we will be very impressed if you have these fresh from the lemon tree)

Here is how you do it

  1. Preheat the oven to 200F/Gas 2
  2. Put 2 large plates in the freezer to chill
  3. Pour the 3 ingredients into a large pan on the hob and slowly cook on a low heat until the berries melt into the sugar. You shouldn’t be able to see any sugar crystals. If you do keep warming.
  4. Once dissolved, bring to the boil for 4 minutes.
  5. Take off the heat and take a cold plate from the freezer and drop a teaspoon of jam on it. You’ll need to leave it for about a minute to see if it sets – if you can see the surface wrinkling it means your jam is ready to put into the jam jars.
  6. If still runny, place back onto the heat and bring to the boil for another minute or two before testing again – repeat this step until set.
  7. Once set, take off the heat, and remove any residue from the surface and leave to cool for 5 minutes.
  8. Pour into your jam jars with a wooden spoon and secure the lids.
  9. Store in a cool, dark cupboard.

Perfect for pancakes, baking, breakfast and even sarnies, give it a go.

 

Show Stopper Plants for September...

The nights are getting darker but let's lift some colour into your Garden this September.

Rudbeckia Hirta

Aster Sedifolius

Helianthus

Crocosmia