After one of the hottest and driest summers many of us can remember, September feels like a welcome change in the garden.
The intensity of high summer begins to ease. Days remain pleasantly warm, evenings become cooler and, with a little luck, we begin to see more regular rainfall.
Whilst many people think the gardening season is beginning to come to an end, September is actually one of the best times to be working in the garden.
After designing gardens throughout Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and across East Anglia, I often find myself encouraging clients to wait until early autumn before carrying out major planting.
It may seem surprising, but trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants generally establish far more successfully once the extremes of summer have passed.
Why Autumn Planting Works
There is a lovely window in early autumn when conditions can be almost perfect for planting.
The soil retains much of the warmth it has gathered during summer, encouraging new roots to develop quickly, whilst cooler air temperatures place far less stress on newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials.
Instead of using their energy simply trying to survive the heat, plants can begin settling naturally into their new surroundings before winter arrives.
And with more reliable rainfall, newly planted gardens usually require less intervention than they would during prolonged periods of hot, dry weather.
For me, planting isn’t simply about choosing plants that look beautiful together. It is about understanding what they need to thrive and designing planting that will develop naturally over time.
A Garden Will Tell You What Worked
September is also an excellent month to stand back and look at your own garden.
Which areas performed well during the summer?
Which plants coped with the heat, and which struggled?
Where did you naturally choose to spend your time?
And which parts of the garden weren’t used as much as you imagined?
Gardens tell us a great deal if we simply take the time to notice.
These observations form an important part of my own garden design process. Understanding how a garden has actually behaved through an entire season can reveal far more than looking at it on a single day.
Not Every Garden Needs to Start Again
Sometimes the changes a garden needs are surprisingly simple.
Perhaps a border needs more structure.
A seating area might benefit from a little afternoon shade.
A new tree could provide height, enclosure and a focal point.
Or perhaps there is simply an area of the garden that doesn’t quite feel connected to everything around it.
Some of the best improvements come not from starting again, but from understanding how your garden has behaved and working with it, rather than against it.
A successful garden should feel as though it belongs to its setting, which is why existing trees, views, levels, architecture and established planting can all become important parts of a new design.
Gardens Become Better With Time
September is also a wonderful time to think ahead.
Spring flowering bulbs can soon be planted, new trees have many months to establish before next summer, and thoughtful improvements made now can reward us for years to come.
The very best gardens are rarely finished all at once.
They develop over time, becoming richer and more interesting with every passing season.
Plants mature and begin to knit together. Trees develop character and presence. Borders become fuller and the relationship between the different spaces within the garden becomes softer and more natural.
Whether I’m designing a contemporary family garden, a formal country landscape or an intimate courtyard, I always want the garden to become better as it matures.
That, for me, is one of the great pleasures of garden design.
A New Season Begins
There is something really lovely about spending time in the garden again once the heat begins to ease.
The softer light, cooler temperatures and changing colours remind us that gardens are never static.
They are always evolving, each season quietly preparing the way for the next.
For me, September has always felt full of optimism.
The pressure of summer begins to ease, the soil is still warm and the garden is ready to move into its next season.
In many ways, it’s when some of the best gardening of the year really begins.
September Gardening Calendar
- September is one of the best months for planting trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials.
- Repair tired lawns or lay new turf whilst the soil remains warm.
- Continue watering newly planted gardens until they are well established.
- Divide overcrowded perennials to rejuvenate borders and create new plants.
- Spend time planning improvements whilst this year’s successes and disappointments are still fresh in your mind.
Further Inspiration
If you’re planning improvements to your own garden, you may also find these pages helpful:
Find out more about my design philosophy and RHS Award Winning work – click here.
Thinking about transforming your garden? I’d be delighted to discuss your project – click here.
About Tim Jennings Design
Tim Jennings is an RHS Award Winning Garden & Landscape Designer creating timeless outdoor spaces throughout Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and across East Anglia. His work combines strong architectural structure with beautiful, naturalistic planting to create gardens that are elegant, practical and enjoyable throughout every season.
