Although September is the start of meteorological Autumn it is still a great gardening month. The soil is warm and the moisture levels are starting to recover in Aberdeen so its great time to get on with things.

Autumn and winter planters and containers – your summer bedding may still be looking brilliant, but some might be beginning to look a bit tired. It is always tempting to get more out of your summer display, but this can be to the detriment of establishing your autumn, winter and early spring display. We have a full range of autumn/winter bedding plants and small shrubs and grasses to fill beds, containers and hanging baskets.

Spring flowering bulbs – we have almost got the full range in, but they do go fast. Now is the time to plan out what you want to see in the Spring and remember to ad bulbs in with your winter displays. Nothing shouts spring is coming as they start to poke out of the ground at the end of winter.

Planting – “Autumn is natures time to plant” was what we were all told by the old wise gardeners, especially before we started selling plants in containers that could be planted 12 months of the year. So why plant at this time of year? The soil is warm and autumn rain is chasing the drought we are kind of still in away. This gives newly planted shrubs, herbaceous, fruit bushes, roses, etc time to put on roots and establish a little bit before the winter. The advantage of this is that they are ready to go when spring arrives and will thrive through out next years growing season. Always remember to use Bonemeal, a really old-fashioned fertiliser that still does the business to encourage root growth. We also stock a range mycorrhizal fungi if you think you have a tired or challenging patch of ground you are planting in and I would always encourage you to buy a bag or two of Farmyard Manure or Soil Improver to mix into the ground when you’re planting. These products will get biology back into the soil and add organic matter to improve structure.

Autumn vegetable plants – they always run out sooner than you think and we have a great selection at the moment. Also, we want them in the ground and rooting up quickly.

Feeding – If you are thinking of giving plants a feed stop thinking and do it. Why? Autumn is great time to get nutrients into plants, and we will reap the rewards of this in the next season. But, and it’s a big but, we don’t want soft lush plants in mid October as they are trying to go dormant as the weather cools down. Hence this is the perfect time to use fertiliser. We have a full range for every sort of plant, just ask the team for advice.

Lawncare – just like everything else I have mentioned now it the time to get on with it. There is still time to sow new lawns, over seed thin patches, treat weeds and moss and apply autumn fertiliser. Again this is an investment now that will give you results in the spring.

As always we are open seven days a week nine to five.
happy gardening

Simon