Gardening guru Pollyanna Wilkinson shared her top tips for what to do in the garden this September, including one simple task that will help you get ahead for next year’s bloom
A gardening expert has shared some valuable advice for September(Image: IRINA NAZAROVA via Getty Images)
As we move into the autumn months, a gardening expert shared some valuable advice for plant fans. Pollyanna Wilkinson, who dispenses her horticultural expertise on TikTok via @pollywilkinsongarden, recommends that September presents an ideal opportunity to prepare for next year’s flowering displays.
She stresses the importance of locating annuals – varieties that finish their entire growth cycle within a single year – which have produced seed. “Collect the ripe seed,” she recommends in her recent video, before revealing her preferred storage methods.
“Put them into an envelope and store them somewhere frost free and we’ll sow them next year,” she says.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) endorses this approach, stating: “Collect ripe seed on a dry day, as soon as the seedheads (e.g. capsules or pods) ripen. This is often indicated by a colour change from green to brown, black or red, but must be before they open and shed their contents.”
The RHS further suggests spreading out the harvested seedheads (either separately or on stems) to dry in a warm location – such as a greenhouse bench, a sunny windowsill or even an airing cupboard.
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“This enables seed to be more easily extracted from pods, cones or capsules,” the specialists explain, noting with proper storage, the seeds should stay “viable for many years”.
Pollyanna also shared her essential tips for gardeners keen to prepare for next year’s display, and she’s insistent the present moment is ideal for sowing hardy annuals.
She also recommends September as the optimal month to lift gladioli corms ready for spring replanting.
“Now is the time to lift up the corms and allow them to dry out before storing them somewhere frost free,” she advises.
Pollyanna offers additional gems of wisdom for this month, beginning with a reminder to order Spring bulbs without delay.
“Why order now? Because they sell out,” she cautions.
“You don’t need to plant them now – store them somewhere like the shed – and we’ll get round to them in November or December.”
She then turns to lawn maintenance, encouraging garden fans to “scarify” their lawns.
For those unfamiliar with the term, she explains: “Scarifying is essentially raking the lawn to get out thatch and moss and it’s really going to improve the health of your lawn.”
Pollyanna stresses the importance of locating annuals
Concluding her guidance, Pollyanna emphasises another job that can be undertaken in either September or October – dividing perennials.
She even offers a useful list of appropriate plants in the video’s caption, noting: “Suitable options include: Agapanthus, Anemone, Aster, Bergenia, Delphinium, Epimedium, Eryngium, Geranium, Helianthus, Lychnis, nepeta ornamental grasses, Salvia, Sedum, Verbena.”
She explained: “We’re dividing them because not only does it create more plants we can use elsewhere in the garden, but every two, three or four years we divide them to retain their vigour and ensure they keep flowering. Essentially all you have to do is dig them up, whack a spade through it to divide the clump, replant them, water them and that’s it – free plants, healthier plants.”
Her advice was enthusiastically received by her digital followers. One TikTok user remarked: “Thanks for the info,” whilst another showed their appreciation by writing: “Thanks for the tips!” A further supporter shared their gratitude, commenting: “Brilliant, thank you.”
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