It’s been a scorcher of a summer. After weeks of intense heat and very little meaningful rainfall, many gardens are entering September looking rather different from how they started the season.
Lawns have browned, borders have wilted and even established trees and shrubs may be showing signs of stress. At Gardens of England, we’ve had to adapt too – both in the way we work and in how we care for our clients’ gardens.
Keeping Cool in the Heat
Looking after our team properly is essential when temperatures soar. On the hottest days, we’ve built extra breaks into the working day, shifted heavier jobs to the cooler morning hours where possible and made sure everyone stays well hydrated.
High-factor sun block has been standard kit too, alongside our new wide-brimmed hats – which have become something of a team uniform this summer!
We’ve adapted our garden maintenance too. Lawns have been left slightly longer to help shade the soil and retain moisture, while careful watering has been particularly important for newly planted trees, shrubs and hedging.
Helping Your Garden Recover
As temperatures begin to ease, September is the perfect time to help gardens recover and prepare for autumn.
Give Lawns a Little TLC
Don’t despair if your lawn has turned brown. Established grass is remarkably resilient and is often dormant rather than dead. As rain returns and growth resumes, lightly rake away dead material, avoid cutting too short and consider aerating or overseeding sparse areas.
Refresh Tired Borders
Deadhead late-flowering plants to keep them going for longer and remove damaged or exhausted growth where appropriate. Don’t be too quick to give up on plants that look rather sorry for themselves – some may simply have shut down during the heat and could recover as conditions improve.
Keep an Eye on Trees and Shrubs
New trees, hedges and shrubs are particularly vulnerable after prolonged dry weather. Continue to monitor them and, if conditions remain dry, give them a good deep watering rather than a frequent light sprinkling.
Give the Soil Some Attention
Weeks of heat can leave soil baked hard and depleted of moisture. Once we’ve had some rain, adding organic matter or a layer of mulch can help improve the soil, retain moisture and prepare borders for the cooler months ahead.
Looking Ahead to Autumn
September may mark the end of summer, but it’s the beginning of another busy period in the garden. Over the coming weeks our attention turns to autumn lawn care, pruning where appropriate, tidying borders, planting and preparing gardens for winter.
After such an extraordinary summer, a little care now can make a big difference – helping gardens recover from the heat and putting them in the best possible shape for the seasons ahead.
Need a Hand After the Summer?
If your garden is looking a little tired after the heat, the Gardens of England team is here to help – from lawn care and border maintenance to hedge trimming and general autumn tidy-ups. We’d be delighted to help get your garden back into shape.
