This Month in Your Garden - SEPTEMBER

Bulbs and corms can go in now, in fact many will benefit from planting before the end of September and reward with a bright, early show as spring approaches.

Daffodils, crocuses, Anemone blanda, Fritillaria imperialis, irises, muscari, scillas and lilies should be planted on fairly rich, well worked soil but avoid dressing with manure. 

The bulbs will appreciate a dusting of bonemeal at about 4oz per square yard. Hold back planting tulips though until late October, early November, to help protect them from slug damage and ‘tulip fire’, the damaging fungus. 

The Lawn Care Guide - SEPTEMBER

Early autumn care for the lawn is helped by an understanding of what’s been happening beneath the surface.

A summer of walking, playing and generally using the lawn has caused the soil to compact which prevents air reaching the roots. 

Some of the grass has gone through the natural life-cycle and has died. Fresh grass is germinating from seed in the soil or windblown seed. 

Use of fertilizer and the presence of moss join these other factors in the build-up of thatch, the dead growth at soil level. It needs to be removed if you are to have a healthy lawn next year. 

The Big Glut Recipe - SEPTEMBER

Gratin of courgette, tomato and Gruyère

This makes great use of a glut of courgettes and tomatoes, as a lunch or light supper dish for two, with a salad perhaps and crusty bread. Or you could serve it as a side dish when feeding more people.

Ingredients: 

• 3 tomatoes, sliced 
• 2 courgettes, sliced 
• 100g Gruyère, grated 
• Drizzle of olive oil 

For the tomato sauce:

• 1 clove of garlic thinly sliced 
• 2 tbsp olive oil 
• 400g tin plum tomatoes 

The Vegetable Plot - SEPTEMBER

Before storing marrows, pumpkins and squashes indoors they will need cutting and laying out in the sunshine for a couple of weeks, or keep them in the greenhouse. 

Leave some courgettes growing to the size of small marrows until the skins are hardened by about the end of October if you want to store some for Christmas. 

Although it’s too late to make successional sowings outside you can sow some lettuce, endive and radishes in unheated frames.