September was a month of two extremes’. Some stunning warm days, followed by torrential rain at the end of the month, however the garden still has lots of colour to enjoy.
On those beautiful warm days, I got around to take some cuttings of the salvia Amante, salvia Caradonna and Erysimum Bowles Mauve.
I find taking cuttings a bit hit and miss so anything that I can get to survive is a bonus. The salvia Amante is looking healthy, the Caradonna not so much and I think the Erysimum might be okay too. I’m getting more confident at trying new methods in the garden. People always say how easy cuttings and propagation are but I must admit I’ve had a few failures over the years. As my knowledge increases so does my confidence and I’m finding that I’ve nothing to lose by trying and if all else fails, well it’s just another excuse to go to Longacres.
The garden centres are currently full of bulbs for next spring. So much choice, where to start?
Each autumn I plant up pots for each spring once my chrysanthemums have died back. Each year I make the same mistake, I look at the plant spacing guide on the pack and end up planting as such in my pots. I then end up with a display which is okay but not as breath taking as those pots you see with them absolutely crammed full of bulbs, so this year I’m going for it. On Gardeners World they say as long as they aren’t touching they will be fine. So this is what I’ll be planting up next month.
My budding gardener daughter No1 will be planting the narcissus Tete a Tete’s and mixed crocus which we will then cover in wire mesh to stop the squirrels from digging them up.
Over the last few years my allium Purple Sensations have been increasing in numbers and the display has been getting better and better. This year however the numbers were down which it is thought is due to last year’s drought. I’m hoping they will start to increase in numbers again next year but in the meantime, I couldn’t resist these allium Globemasters. They flower slightly later that the Purple Sensation and the flowers are lot larger and will increase in size as they mature. I’m going to plant them where the dahlia’s are, outside the kitchen window so I get to enjoy them when they flower.
In between downpours I always enjoy getting out and trying to keep on top of the weeds and deadheading. Even a quick half an hour helps to keep on top of things. The herb bed has been tidied up for winter with the lavender being cut back. Now the flowers have at last gone over and the bees have made the most of them I have cut them right down to the base. You can see all the new growth and by cutting back hard I am hoping it will stop them getting leggy and keep them going for years. This may be later than is advised but I struggle to cut the plants back when the bees can still enjoy the flowers.
I have really enjoyed the display from the dahlia’s this year. The longevity of the flowering has been outstanding and has by far exceeded my expectation. I haven’t decided yet whether to keep the pink and purple ones in the soil or dig them up. Being on light sandy soil they should survive the winter as it is waterlogging they don’t like and hopefully with a good mulch they will be protected over the winter.
Looking out at the garden it is awash with purple from the aster × frikartii ‘Mönch’ and aster Little Carlow.
Needing to balance that out with a bit more pink and to join a pink aster I have, I’ve purchased some anemone hupehensis var. japonica ‘Pamina’ and salvia icing sugar making the most of the £1.99 9cm pots at Longacres.
Another addition to the garden this month is Euphorbia characias ‘Silver Swan’, I saw it in a couple of the show gardens at Hampton Court and love the variegated leaves. Alongside the brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ it gives a real contrast in leaf shape to add interest to the garden. I’m looking forward to it maturing and contrasting with the Euphorbia characias subsp. Wulfenii in the bed behind it.
Now whilst it isn’t raining I best get out to the garden and get my anemones planted out.
You do such a beautiful job, Sarah.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂