September is a month of transition in the garden. As summer fades and autumn approaches, now is the perfect time to prepare your outdoor space for the colder months while making the most of late-season colour and harvests. Here’s your essential checklist for September gardening.

Plant spring-flowering bulbs
Get ahead for next year by planting daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths. September is also a good month for alliums and fritillaries. By planting now, you’ll enjoy a vibrant display when spring returns.

Tidy borders and prune shrubs
Cut back faded perennials, trim summer-flowering shrubs, and deadhead roses to encourage a final flush of blooms. Clearing spent growth keeps beds neat and reduces the risk of pests and disease over winter.

Divide and replant perennials
September’s cooler, damper weather makes it ideal for dividing overgrown clumps of perennials such as hostas, daylilies and geraniums. Replant divisions to rejuvenate borders and share with friends.

Lawn care
Give your lawn a little TLC. Rake out moss and thatch, reseed bare patches, and feed with an autumn lawn fertiliser to strengthen grass before winter.

Vegetable garden tasks
Harvest crops like beans, courgettes, and tomatoes while they’re still plentiful. Sow spinach, radish and hardy salad leaves for autumn picking. Clear spent plants and add them to the compost heap.

Fruit garden jobs
Pick apples, pears and plums as they ripen. Check stored fruit regularly and use any damaged ones quickly. Prune summer-fruiting raspberries and tie in new canes for next year.

General garden care
Start a compost bin if you haven’t already. Clean and store tools, and consider netting ponds before leaves begin to fall.

With a little attention in September, you’ll protect your garden for the colder months and set it up beautifully for spring.