Page 12 - Thrapston Life September 2024

Perennial phlox come in a spectrum of
pinks: from hot neon through to pastel baby. Liking sun or light shade, their displays can
be disappointing on poor dry soils, so it might be worth improving your soil before planting them. Nerines offer long lasting blooms in shades of pink, white and sometimes red. Hardy nerines like Nerine bowdenii should be planted in a warm sheltered spot with well-draining soil that retains moisture. Frost-tender nerines such as Nerine sarniensis should be grown in pots and moved inside over winter, protecting them from frosts.
Other jobs in the garden for early autumn:
• Buy and plant spring flowering bulbs now.
• Look after your lawn. Mow less frequently,
raising the height of the blades. Apply an autumn lawn feed if your grass needs a boost after scarifying and aerating it. Now is the perfect time to sow a new lawn from seed.
• Plant overwintering onion sets and spring cabbages. Remember to net the cabbages to protect them from pigeons.
• Harvest fruits and vegetables. Apples, pears, tomatoes, courgettes, peppers and sweetcorn are all ready to harvest now, along with pumpkins and squashes.
• Reduce how often you water your houseplants.
• Cut back perennials that have died down.
We have hopefully given you a little inspiration for late summer/ early autumn for your outdoor space. Hopefully the weather will remain mild and dry enough for us to get out and fully enjoy the beauty of the season.
Stephanie Wilson,
The Barn Garden Centre www.thebarngardencentre.co.uk
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