September in the Garden

Pick your month

September

Spring is in the air …

It’s that wonderful time of year when the garden comes to life again after Winter. Deciduous blossom and fruit trees are in full bloom, there are bulb and seasonal flowers aplenty and other trees and shrubs are sprouting bright green new leaves and shoots.

Gardening in September

The vegetable garden is at the height of production in September, whilst there are plenty of bulbs and flowers to plant in September too. Discover what you should be doing in your garden in September as we head into the spring.

Chilli

It seems that most people now have at least 1 or 2 chilli plants at home – it’s become incredibly trendy. Growing...

Potatoes

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are tubers that grow and form at the plant’s roots. Plants also produce flowering shoots...

Cucumbers

Delicious in salads and sandwiches, the crisp, sweet crunch of a cucumber is one of the joys of summer. Growing...

Spring Onion

Spring onions (also known as green shallots and green bunching or salad onions) are a delicious addition to a whole...

Blueberries

Eaten fresh, baked in muffins or as the star attraction in jams or desserts, blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are...

Strawberries

Who doesn’t love strawberries? If you’re a strawberry fan, there are many varieties easy to grow at home, allowing you...

Raspberries

What could be better than a bowl of sweet, fresh-picked raspberries in summer? These delicious fruits are easy to grow...

Cherries

Homegrown cherries are sweet, juicy and delicious. Many varieties will be dripping with ready to pick cherries around...

Basil

No herb garden should be without a basil plant. Cultivated for centuries, it’s one of the easiest herbs to grow from...

Coriander

Coriander, also known in some countries as cilantro, is a very popular herb grown mainly for its green leaves and its...

Lemongrass

Lemongrass is an essential, zesty and citrus-flavoured herb used widely for Asian cooking and herbal teas. Lemongrass...

Parsley

Parsley is a prolific and easy-to-grow leafy green herb. There are two main types of parsley - flat-leaf parsley, also...

Fiddle Leaf Figs

With their lush, upright stature and huge, glossy leaves, the Fiddle Leaf Fig ( Ficus lyrata) is one of the most popular...

Peace Lily

With their dark green foliage and pure white flowers, Peace Lilies are a stunning addition indoors. Being just as...

Monstera

Monstera deliciosa is also commonly called the Swiss cheese Plant, Fruit Salad Plant or Monstera. Its large green glossy...

Philodendron

There’s a reason why Philodendrons make such great indoor plants… well several actually! They look good, aren’t fussy...

Buffalo Grass

A popular stalwart in Australian gardens for good reason, buffalo grass makes for an incredibly resilient lawn. It is...

Kikuyu Grass

Kikuya grass, or Pennisetum Clandestinum, is a vigorous plant often used in Australian lawns and common in public...

Orchids

Orchids are a great addition to any home, with their exotic, delicate and diverse flowers and their beautiful shapes and...

Sunflowers

If you want to grow something spectacular, plant sunflowers. They come in a whole range of sizes from dwarf to giant and...

Allium

Alliums belong to the same family as onions, garlic and leeks, as you can tell from the aroma when you crush the foliage...

Roses

Roses are among our favourite garden plants – and deservedly so. They are versatile, produce vibrant colour through...

What to harvest now:

The last of the winter veggies, including cabbage, kale, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and broccoli should be harvested early in the month. New season’s asparagus will be peaking now. Harvest spears when about 15cm tall.

What to plant now:

Continue planting certified virus-free strawberry plants and runners. Rhubarb crowns should be planted as soon as possible. It’s too cold in southern areas to sow tomato seeds, even under cover. Wait until early October.

Click on the plant image below to find out more about them.

In cooler areas seeds or seedlings of the following may go into sunny, well-prepared beds:

In temperate to warm areas plant:

Veggie patch tips for September:

Water in newly planted seedlings with a liquid fertiliser for vegetables and herbs such as Osmocote Pour+Feed Vegetables, Tomatoes & Herbs or a certified organic fertiliser to give them a good start.
After sowing seeds, water well to moisten the soil, then wait until shoots appear before watering again.
Hand pull or hoe out weeds as they appear – they compete for nutrients and moisture and may also harbour pests that could attack your crops.
Pull out the last of the winter crops and put them into the compost bin if they are disease-free.
Preparation for spring sowing and planting should be well underway. Keep the soil tilled, weed-free and moist.

Fruit

What fruits to harvest now:

Only the warmer parts of the country are likely to have any fruit to harvest this month. Mandarins, tangelos, grapefruit and lemons should be plentiful and, in tropical areas, mangoes and paw paws (papaya) will be starting to ripen.

What fruit to plant:

Evergreen fruiting plants such as passionfruit vines and citrus can planted in warm to tropical areas. In temperate to cool areas, wait until the danger of frosts has passed. Potted deciduous fruit trees and vines can be transplanted this month. It’s best to get them in and established before the weather gets too warm in late spring.

The range available may include:

Fig
Apple
Pear
Cherry
Plum
Apricot
Plumcot
Nectarine
Peach
Persimmon
Almond
Walnut
Mulberry
Pomegranate
Quince
Raspberry
Blackberry

Herbs

What to grow:

“Hard” herbs - rosemary, sage, thyme, bay laurel, oregano, mint* – may be planted now in warm climates. “Soft” herbs – parsley, basil, coriander, chives, tarragon – may be grown indoors in cooler areas or outdoors in warmer climates.

*Mint should be grown in a pot to stop it becoming invasive.

Indoor Plants

Tips for Indoor Plants:

Plants inside the home assist in purifying the air as well as lending a touch of greenery to your living areas.
Natural light is important but don’t stand pots on north or west-facing windowsills where they will be exposed to direct sun through the glass.
Place a saucer or bowl of water near your plants to humidify the air or regularly mist them with a water atomiser.
Wipe leaves occasionally with a damp cloth to keep them clean.
Feed every few weeks with ready to use Osmocote Pour+Feed Indoor Plants – no mixing required.

Lawn

Mid-September is the ideal time to sow a new lawn or lay instant turf. There’s just enough warmth in cool areas to encourage germination and/or good root growth so the new lawn will establish before it gets too hot. Prepare the area by removing all weeds, hoeing the soil to break up clumps and levelling it. Add a layer of Lawn Builder Topdress Mix and Lawn Builder Starter Slow Release Lawn Food as per bag instructions before sowing or laying turf.

If you have not already fertilised the lawn this spring, you should do so now.

Lawn Builder All Purpose Slow Release Lawn Food, Lawn Builder Buffalo Slow Release Lawn Food or Lawn Builder Extreme Green Slow Release Lawn Food (all granular fertilisers that will feed your lawn for up to three months and suitable for all types of grass) will suit most situations.
If you have a broadleaf weed problem, then choose Lawn Builder + Weedkill Slow Release Lawn Food but READ THE LABEL FIRST! This fertiliser cannot be applied to buffalo grasses and some other lawn substitutes.
Buffalo grasses and lawn substitutes can be treated and fed with Lawn Builder Buffalo Weed, Feed & Green Up, a hose-on product that can be safely used on all lawn types. However, it is not a slow release, long lasting lawn food.
Control moss in shady areas with a solution of iron sulfate (30 grams in 4.5L of water) applied as a spray or with the watering will help control it. Re-apply if necessary.
If you’ve already fertilised the lawn when you notice broadleaf weeds including bindii spreading, use Lawn Builder Bindii, Clover & Broadleaf hose-on to eradicate them.

Flowers

What flowers to plant:

Potted roses in full leaf can be planted now. It’s too late now to plant advanced flowering pots out into the garden but they can be used to add splashes of colour to verandas and decks.