September Gardening Jobs: What to Plant, Grow, and Tidy This Month

September signals the gentle slide from summer into autumn, but there’s still plenty of life left in the garden. It’s a brilliant month to keep colour going, plan for next year, and take advantage of mild days to tick off key tasks.

Here’s your complete guide on what to plant, prune, and prep this month, plus how to keep your garden looking great well into the cooler weeks.

Garden Maintenance and Cleaning in September

September is all about smart upkeep and preparing your garden for the months ahead.

- Keep deadheading and feeding: Continue to remove spent flowers from bedding plants and late perennials. Feed once more to prolong blooms and get plants in shape before the chill sets in.

- Cut back and mulch: Once perennials like Nepeta or delphiniums finish flowering, cut them down and mulch the area with compost or well-rotted manure. It’ll protect roots and improve the soil for next year.

- Divide overgrown clumps: September’s ideal for splitting plants like crocosmia, hosta, and other big perennials. This keeps them vigorous and gives you extra plants for free.

- Clean up paths and patios: Falling leaves and damp weather can turn hard surfaces slippery. A quick sweep or pressure wash will keep things tidy, check out our garden cleaning tools to make it easy.

- Stay on top of tools: As big planting winds down, it’s the perfect moment to give your spades, forks and secateurs a clean. Check out our handy guide on how to store and care for garden hand tools.

- September is the ideal time to repair bare patches in your lawn. After a busy summer, sow lawn seed to restore any areas that have become worn or damaged.

What to Plant in September: Flowers, Bulbs and Shrubs

As some summer plants fade, there is still loads you can plant now to keep your garden lively and set it up for spring.

Flowers

September is the perfect time to plant hardy annuals that will flower next summer. Plants like Calendula and Cornflower are great options to start with.

Spring bulbs and bedding

- Plant spring-flowering bulbs: September is prime time for getting daffodils, crocus, hyacinths and tulips into pots and borders for gorgeous early colour. You’ll find everything you need in our plants, seeds and compost section.

- Autumn and spring bedding: Pop in pansies, violas, and cyclamen to keep beds cheerful when summer blooms fade.

Shrubs and evergreens

Plant new shrubs: Cooler weather and still-warm soil make autumn the best time for planting shrubs, especially evergreens. They’ll establish roots before winter hits.

Lawn care

Sow new lawns and patch bare spots: September’s moisture and mildness make it the best month to start a new lawn or repair tired patches.

Feeding and Caring for Your Garden

- Mulch well: After cutting back perennials, add a good layer of compost or mulch. It helps lock in moisture, keeps weeds down, and gives soil a nutrient boost.

- Look after wildlife: As berries appear, birds start visiting more often. Top up feeders from our pets & birdcare range to help them through the season.

- Keep an eye on fallen leaves: Start gathering leaves now with a rake or blower to avoid a big backlog later. Store them for leaf mould, or simply keep paths clear.

Pruning in September: What to Cut Back and Shape

September’s great for tidying and getting ahead of winter die-back.

- Trim hedges lightly: Give evergreen hedges one last tidy to keep them neat over winter. Need new gear? Check out our guide to garden power tools and how to care for them.

- Tidy perennials: Cut back finished flowers and remove any tatty foliage.

- Check shrubs for shape: Lightly trim to keep things compact and tidy before growth slows.

Don’t forget to keep your favourite hand tools in top condition, sharp, clean secateurs make pruning easier on both you and your plants.

Garden Cleaning and End-of-Season Prep

As the leaves start to fall, get ahead of autumn’s mess:

- Sweep patios and decks to stop algae and moss from taking hold.

- Clean up pots and store anything tender under cover.

- Give tools a wash and wipe with an oiled rag before putting them away.

Explore our full garden cleaning range for everything you need to keep paths, decks and driveways spotless.

Enjoy Autumn Gardening with Woodie’s

September’s mild days make it one of the nicest months to be outside, tidying up, planting for spring, or simply enjoying the late bursts of colour. Whether you’re dividing perennials, laying a new lawn, or topping up feeders for the birds, we’ve got all the tools and plants you need to keep your garden thriving.

Pop into your local Woodie’s or browse the full plants, seeds and compost range to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can I still plant flowers in September?
Yes! Plant pansies, violas, and spring bulbs now for colour later. It’s also the best month to put in new shrubs.

Is it too late to sow a lawn?
Not at all, September is actually perfect. The soil’s still warm and there’s usually more rain to help seeds germinate.

Should I keep feeding plants?
Yes, give a final feed to summer bedding and containers to keep them going as long as possible.

What’s the benefit of dividing perennials now?
It keeps plants healthy, encourages more blooms next year, and gives you extra clumps to spread around the garden.

Do I need to clean up fallen leaves?
Starting now saves a much bigger job later. Plus it stops leaves from making patios or driveways slippery.