Monty’s month
Summer slips through September’s fingers, becoming thinner and more elusive by the day until by the end of the month there is nothing left but memories and autumn days. With this comes wistfulness lit by a fragile yet clear light. But the vegetable garden is offering a rich harvest – apples and pears are ripening by the day and, with a little management, the flower borders can look as good as at any other time.
The trick is to cut your losses. The compost heap becomes the gardener’s best friend. Anything that has finished flowering is not going to have anything further to contribute until next year, and should be cleared away while the foliage yellows and the few remaining flowers hang on like survivors. I clear the sweet peas and dismantle their beanstick tripods to make room for biennials such as foxgloves, honesty and wallflowers.
The summer party might be over, but next year’s celebrations are already in train. The gardening year never ends, but only moves along. WATCH videos and get tips at gardenersworld.com/ add-late-colour