Gardening with Vicky - September

Vicky joined The Otter Nursery in August as a part-time retail assistant and horticulturalist expert.  With over 18 years industry experience and an absolute love for all things horticulture, we couldn't think of anyone better to offer advice and tips on what to do in the garden for September, if you'd like any information on the below simply contact us and one of our friendly team will be happy to help.

Vicky's Top 5 tips for September 

1. Once the weather has started to cool down and the soil becomes damp, it's a great time to start planting container grown perennials, shrubs and trees.
2. September is a great time to seed or turf a new lawn.  The Otter Nursery has fresh turf delivered daily, do bear in mind though we sell out quickly so its always best to reserve some or arrange delivery from us.  More information on our premium turf can be found here.
3. Continue to dead head your summer bedding plants and dahlias.  You can give them a last feed with Westland Seaweed liquid feed 1L £6.99 and they should continue to flower until the first frost hits
4. Climbing and rambling roses should be pruned now, once they have finished flowering.  Climbing roses are usually pruned back to a framework; ramblers are shined by pruning some of the stems back to the base and trimming to keep to size.  This is also a good opportunity to clear up the dead leaves from around the base of the plant to reduce disease next year
5. If your garden is in need of a bit of extra colour, why not try adding an ornamental grass such as the striking dark flowered Molinia caerulea 'Edith Dudzus'  - we have 7.7L in stock for only £24 each.  You could also add in some late flowering perennials such as
   • Anemone x hybrida 3L £10 each
   • Sedum spectacle varieties 2L £6 each
   • Ceratosigma willmot 'Forest Blue' 5L £16 eac

Other long flowering perennials which are still full of stunning colours are Salvias or the butterfly plant, Scabiosa Kudo.  For sheltered spots try the         chocolate cosmos, Cosmos atrosanguineas, or the pretty and unusual Euphorbia 'Diamond Forest'

Box Moth Caterpillar 

Have your box plants been ravaged by the box moth caterpillar?  It might be worth looking at a replacing them with a disease/pest free alternative.  Japanese box leaved holly (Ilex crenata) is a good substitute, as in Lonicera nitida.  We currently have a small leaved Lonicera nitida 'Tidy Tips' in stock, these are especially good for shaping and flushes red in the winter.

*prices and products listed are subject to change.