September is the time of the year where things start to cool down, the wind picks up and the days get shorter. This is the month to get started on your preparation for spring whilst enjoying your garden as much as you can before the frosts come in. 

General 

• Net ponds – protect your pond before leaves begin to fall 
• Clean out water butts – keep your irrigation in the best condition in preparation for autumn rains 
• Clean ponds and water features of weeds – Remove duckweed, pondweed and algae from water features and ponds
• Collect and bin brown apples and pears – reduce the spread of this fungi and protect your good crops 
• Order bare-root fruit trees – to plant later in autumn or winter

Plants 

• Divide herbaceous perennials – ensure healthy, vigorous plants in the spring
• Collect and sow seed from perennials and hardy annuals – opportunity to increase the number of plants in your garden for free
• Plant spring-flowering bulbs –  daffodils, crocus and hyacinths are a priority for the end of the month 
• Sow hardy annuals –  cerinthes, ammi, scabiosa and cornflowers should be planted now  for flowers early next summer
• Deadhead container plants –  encourage more blooms and keep your patio displays longer into the Autumn 

Wildlife 

• Wash and disinfect bird feeders and tables – maintain good hygiene on your tables and you will see birds throughout the winter
• Plant nectar-rich bulbs –  crocus, snake’s head fritillary, alliums and grape hyacinths can be planted now to feed next year’s hungry emerging bees
• Start putting out fat balls – help those birds staying for the winter
• Leave garden borders intact – don’t cut these back in autumn. Try to leave at least one border intact where seedheads can provide food for birds and fallen stems can create shelter for amphibians, insects and small mammals