September

September is the time to reap the rewards of your hard work, particularly in the vegetable patch. It's also the moment to think about winter, you need to remove anything that will not tolerate a frost and prepare for the spring with autumn sowing.

Top Tip:
One of the best, freely available compost materials is foliage. Leaves will break down fairly easily in soil and compost bins but you'll get faster results if you help the natural decomposition process. If you run your mover over the leaves a few times before you dig them in or add them to your bin you'll get much faster results.

Lawns:
Continue to cut your lawn all the time it is still growing
Remove of all the thatch (grass, moss etc) rubbish with a really good raking.

Remove as many weeds as you can, repair any patches

Feed the lawn with appropriate fertiliser.

Perennials, annuals and bulbs:
Sow your hardy perennials.

Plant up cuttings of hardy annuals.

Plant bulbs to ensure the best possible root structure for the spring

Herbs:
Prune and cut back your thyme, parsley and sage as young growth stand the winter best
Pot up herbs and bring them into the house or greenhouse to protect them from the winter and extend their growing season.

Harvest your herbs as well, leaves can be dried and kept in suitable containers.

Vegetables:
Near the end of the tomato growing season remove all the flowers that won't have time to bear fruit to ensure the ripening tomatoes have the best chance of maturing.

When your onions are ready dig and leave in a dry warm place for a few days before you string them.
Lettuce and radishes will grow well into September in a warm greenhouse or well insulated cold frame.