September 2009
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Autumn Lawn Maintenance


643025844 DBxfK S Autumn Lawn Maintenance

Raise the cut in September.

September is probably one of the most important months of the year for lawn maintenance. This is when preparation for the autumn really begins.

First of all I would recommend that you increase the intervals between the times you mow the lawn and it is very important you raise the height of the cut by 10mm above that of the spring and summer cut.

As leaves and debris start to fall and collect on the lawn, it is imperative to remove this as it will attract worms. In September worms become more active and produce casts – this not only looks unsightly but offers an ideal, well-cultivated resting ground for airborne seeds to germinate e.g. dandelions.

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Plants for Autumn and Winter


643025559 W6JmZ S Plants for Autumn and Winter

Fatsia japonica.


Autumn and winter in the garden can be as interesting as spring and summer. Here are some plants that I recommend for autumn and winter interest that will offer colour and contrast through the cold, dull winter months.

Fatsia japonica
This is an evergreen upright shrub that produces the most magnificent glossy, palmate leaves in mid to dark green, which can reach 14-18inches across. White flowers start to appear on this plant in mid October in panicles, 10-18inches long, composed of rounded umbels, 1-2inches wide. Fatsia will thrive in any reasonable garden soil in a sheltered position, in full sun or shade. They are an excellent plant to grow in a town or city garden, often softening and complimenting hard landscaping and buildings. Fatsia offer fantastic shelter for hedgehogs, as I found out recently in my garden, when I discovered a sleeping hedgehog curled up in a nest of dried leaves and paper, under the cover of the leaves of a mature Fatsia. The glossy leaves were keeping the nest dry during heavy rainfall – a snug home for one of the gardeners best friends.

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Plants of the month for September - ‘Opposites attract’


637407014 UjH6u S Plants of the month for September ‘Opposites attract’

Cotinus coggyria ‘Royal Purple’ (Smoke Tree)

This month I have decided to recommend two beautiful shrubs with stunning, contrasting foliage that together can offer a fabulous combination of colours to tantalise any taste.

Cotinus coggyria ‘Royal Purple’ (Smoke Tree) – this is a fabulous deciduous shrub that

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