September can feel like the point when the gardening year starts winding down, but for many Lancashire gardens it is actually one of the most valuable planting months of the year.
The heat of summer is beginning to ease, the soil is still holding warmth and, as autumn rainfall returns, newly planted roots have time to establish before winter. That makes September a good month for planting spring-flowering bulbs, adding new perennials, putting shrubs and trees into the ground, refreshing containers and repairing lawns that have taken a battering over summer.
If you're wondering what to plant in September in Lancashire, there is plenty you can be getting on with.
Start planting spring-flowering bulbs
Some of the best spring gardens are planned months before the first flowers appear.
September is the time to start planting many spring-flowering bulbs, including daffodils, crocus and hyacinths. Getting them into the ground during autumn gives them the cold period they need before growth begins again next spring.
You can plant bulbs through existing borders, underneath deciduous shrubs and trees, along paths or in pots around patios and entrances. For a more natural appearance, plant bulbs in groups rather than spacing them in perfectly straight lines.
Daffodils are particularly good for adding reliable colour during March and April, while crocus can provide some of the earliest colour of the year. Hyacinths work well where their scent can be enjoyed, including pots near a door or seating area.
Tulips are one bulb you don't need to rush. They are generally better planted later in autumn, so if you've already bought yours, keep them somewhere cool, dry and well ventilated until planting time.
You can see more of our spring-flowering bulbs and seasonal bulb range, with stock changing as we move through autumn.
September is a good time to plant perennials
If there are gaps in your borders that have been bothering you all summer, September gives you another opportunity to deal with them.
Perennials planted as the weather becomes cooler can establish their root systems while the soil still has some summer warmth. They then have autumn and winter to settle before putting on stronger growth next year.
The important thing is to choose plants for the conditions you actually have rather than simply choosing whatever is flowering nicely when you visit the nursery.
Look at how much sunlight the area receives, whether your soil tends to stay wet or drain quickly and how much space the plant will eventually need. A perennial that thrives in a sunny, well-drained border won't necessarily be happy in a damp shaded corner.
September is also a good time to stand back and look at your borders while this year's growth is still visible. You can see where height, colour or structure is missing much more easily than you can during winter when everything has died back.
Our perennial plant range includes plants for different positions and garden styles, and many of the plants sold at Old Oak Farm Nurseries are propagated and grown here in Lancashire.
Plant shrubs for year-round structure
Autumn planting isn't just about flowers.
Shrubs provide the framework that keeps a garden interesting after summer bedding and herbaceous plants have started disappearing. Depending on the variety, they can bring evergreen foliage, flowers, berries, autumn colour, screening or simply some much-needed shape to a border.
September can be an excellent time to start planting container-grown shrubs, particularly once conditions become cooler and wetter.
Compared with planting during a hot spell in late spring or summer, there is generally less pressure on the plant from heat and evaporation. You will still need to water newly planted shrubs while they establish, especially if September remains dry, but autumn conditions can make that job considerably easier.
Before buying, think about what you actually need the shrub to do. You may want evergreen structure around a patio, something flowering for a mixed border, additional privacy along a boundary or a plant that will tolerate a difficult shaded area.
Browse our shrubs for Lancashire gardens or bring a photograph of the area with you when you visit. It is much easier to recommend something suitable when we can see the space you're working with.
Think about trees while the soil is still warm
September also marks the beginning of a good period for establishing many trees.
A tree is a longer-term decision than adding a few bedding plants, so spend some time thinking about mature size, position and what you want it to add to the garden.
You don't need a huge garden to plant one. Smaller ornamental trees, crab apples, flowering cherries, mountain ash and Japanese maples can all bring interest without dominating the space when the right variety is chosen.
Trees can provide spring blossom, autumn colour, berries, fruit, shade and additional habitat for wildlife, making them one of the hardest-working additions you can make to a garden.
If you're working with a small garden, patio or large container, take a look at our small garden trees, Acers and fruit trees. Matching the eventual size of the tree to the available space is far better than planting something now and having to deal with an unsuitable tree several years down the line.
Refresh summer pots for autumn
By the middle of September, many summer containers are starting to show their age.
That doesn't mean the pots need to be put away until spring.
Replacing tired summer bedding with autumn and winter colour can quickly change the appearance of a patio, doorway or entrance. Violas, pansies, cyclamen, heathers, ivy and foliage plants such as heuchera can all be used to create seasonal displays, depending on current availability.
Think about texture as well as flowers. Combining foliage with flowering plants can give a container more structure and helps it remain attractive even when fewer plants are in bloom.
You can also start incorporating spring bulbs beneath the autumn planting. As the seasonal display changes over winter, the bulbs are already sitting underneath ready to take over next spring.
If an existing pot has become crowded with roots or the compost has deteriorated, September is a sensible time to refresh it. Make sure containers have adequate drainage and choose compost suited to what you're planting.
We stock a wide range of garden pots and planters alongside compost, topsoil and soil improvers if you're starting a new autumn display.
Repair lawns while conditions are favourable
September isn't only about planting borders.
Lawns often come out of summer looking tired, thin or patchy, particularly after periods of dry weather, heavy use or regular mowing. Cooler temperatures and increasing moisture make early autumn a useful time to repair those areas.
Start by removing dead material and dealing with obvious weeds, then loosen compacted areas if necessary. Bare patches can be reseeded, while larger damaged sections may be repaired with new turf.
Grass seed needs good contact with the soil and consistent moisture while it germinates, so keep an eye on rainfall rather than assuming Lancashire weather will do all the watering for you.
Avoid using leftover high-nitrogen summer lawn feed at this point in the year. Autumn lawn care is about encouraging healthy roots and preparing the grass for the colder months rather than pushing lots of soft new top growth.
If you're levelling damaged areas before reseeding, topsoil can also help create a better surface before the seed goes down.
Improve your soil before winter
September is also a good opportunity to work on the soil itself.
Once summer plants have been cleared or gaps appear in beds and borders, adding organic matter can improve soil structure and prepare planting areas for the months ahead.
Farmyard manure, soil improver and compost can all have a role depending on what you're growing and the condition of the ground. Mulching established borders can also help retain moisture, reduce weed growth and gradually improve the soil as organic material breaks down.
Lancashire gardens vary considerably, even within a relatively small area. Some people are dealing with heavier ground that holds moisture, while others have much freer-draining soil. There isn't one compost or soil treatment that suits every garden, so it is worth choosing according to the job rather than simply buying the same product for everything.
Don't assume the gardening year is finished
September is one of those months when a small amount of work can make a big difference both now and next year.
You can refresh the colour outside your front door this weekend, repair a damaged lawn before winter and plant something today that won't reveal itself until next March or April.
That's part of what makes autumn planting so worthwhile.
If you're planning what to plant in September in Lancashire, call into Old Oak Farm Nurseries in Hoghton, near Preston. We're within easy reach of Preston, Chorley, Blackburn and the surrounding Lancashire villages, with spring-flowering bulbs, seasonal colour, perennials, shrubs, trees, pots, compost and other autumn gardening essentials available through the season.
Stock changes regularly, so there's always something different to see as autumn develops.
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