Gardening with Christina

Sep 10 2010 by Yonnie McInnes, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

SEPTEMBER we are told is the end of summer.

Too drastic for me, I prefer to refer to it as stage three.

Stage one being May/June, two is July/August, you with me? Until I officially allow myself to stop watering my pots it’s still summer, OK?

Now is the time to complete a couple of unexciting jobs. Firstly, if there are any patches in the lawn, September is the time to over seed.

I told you I did mine in the wet and humid weather of July, but now is the traditional time, so get to it.

Cover the seeded areas with a little compost (to keep the birds away as much as anything), water with a fine spray and the new grass should appear in a fortnight.

It’s also trimming time for hedges, because if you do it now it will allow enough growth between now and the winter whereby the hedge won’t look too bare and pathetic.

You know my views on power tools v hand shears, but I won’t lecture.

If you like taking cuttings, now is ideal to take tip cuttings of tender perennials like Osteopermum and Penstemon.

Cover the cuttings in a polythene bag to maintain heat and moisture, pop them on a windowsill and they should come good in a few weeks.

You’ll see masses of Pansies in the garden centres just now, so fill your boots, as the sooner they’re planted the stronger they will be and the more chance you’ll have of some winter flowers.

The same applies to certain spring bulbs, early flowering Daffodils planted now have more chance of ‘doing what it says on the tin’ i.e. flowering early.

Realistically you’ve got from now ‘til Christmas so if you’re waiting for space to be created by removing spent annuals, bide your time and plant when you can.

A couple of general tips for planting bulbs would be:-

1. Add sharp sand or grit to the base of the hole if your soil is very heavy as bulbs need decent drainage.

2. Daffodils: Plant to a depth of at least twice the height of the bulb and one width apart. Design-wise it’s up to you, but clumps rather than rows tend to look more natural. On my to-do list this month is to plant dozens of bulbs in my Mum’s front lawn.

Her grass is pretty mossy but rather than treat it the traditional way, we’ve decided to make a Spring feature.

The plan is to use Crocuses and Fritillaria (planted around 10cm deep) for a meadow effect. Right now I’m off to pick some plums off the tree.

My dear neighbour will make jam as she is talented in that way.

I am as much use in the kitchen as a chocolate tea pot, but I will, of course, manage to eat the jam.

And finally …. column reader Eric has asked me to ask you all if you know of a gardening group in the Cumnock area.

If anyone has any contacts please let me know at christimac@live.co.uk and as always if your garden needs TLC Christina style call me on 07709802665.