September is one of our favourite months here at Hilltop. There’s still plenty of warmth in the air, the colours are changing, and the garden feels full of life but with a gentle nudge toward autumn. It’s a time to enjoy the last of the summer blooms, start planning for next spring, and get those essential seasonal jobs ticked off.
Whether you’re visiting our garden centre in Clacton-on-Sea for a bag of compost, popping into our garden centre with café for a cuppa after browsing plants, or looking for advice on what to do in your garden this month, we’ve got you covered. So let’s dig in — here’s what’s happening in the garden this September.
Plant spring flowering bulbs now
September is prime time to plant spring bulbs like tulips, daffodils, alliums, crocuses, and hyacinths. It’s such a satisfying job — pop them in now, and come March, April, and May you’ll have a garden bursting with colour.
Here’s our step-by-step guide to planting bulbs:
- Choose your bulbs – Look for firm, healthy bulbs. Avoid any that are soft or mouldy.
- Pick the right spot – Most bulbs love sunny, well-drained positions.
- Prepare the soil – Loosen it up and add a bit of compost for extra nutrients.
- Plant at the right depth – Generally, plant bulbs at a depth about three times their height. Pointy end up!
- Space them out – Follow the instructions on the packet, but don’t be afraid to plant them in little clusters for a natural look. A good tip is to grab a handful of bulbs and scatter them in the area you want them - where they land, plant them! This method gives a natural look, just as nature intended. Of course, if you love a more formal look, plant them in rows!
- Water in – Give them a good drink to settle them in.
A new range of spring flowering bulbs has just arrived at our Essex garden centre, so pop in and have a browse to see what's new.
What to plant this month
September is a great time to refresh your garden with plants that will thrive in cooler weather. Here are our recommendations on what to plant in your garden this month:
Wallflowers - Plant now for a burst of colour in early spring. They’re perfect for filling gaps in borders and combine beautifully with tulips.
Japanese Anemones - If you’ve wandered through our plant area lately, you’ve probably noticed the beautiful swaying blooms of the Japanese anemone. This late summer and early autumn perennial is an absolute star — reliable, low-maintenance, and bursting into flower just when other plants are starting to fade. Japanese anemones thrive in full sun but will happily tolerate partial shade, making them perfect for a variety of spots in the garden. They’re ideal for cottage or woodland garden styles, adding height and elegance to your borders.
They do like free-draining soil, so we recommend planting them with Rocket Gro Multi Purpose with added John Innes, and mixing in some horticultural grit if needed (both available at Hilltop). They can be vigorous spreaders, which means once they’re happy, you’ll enjoy their blooms year after year with very little fuss.
Alpines - Alpines are brilliant for rockeries, troughs, or gravel gardens — low-maintenance and full of character. If you’re a member of our Rewards Club (and if not, join for free in-store or on our website here), you can claim a free alpine plant worth £3.99 with a £10 spend (excluding the café) this month.
Ornamental and fruit trees: September is a fantastic time to plant ornamental and fruit trees, giving them the perfect head start before winter. With the soil still warm from summer but the cooler, damper weather setting in, young trees can establish strong root systems without the stress of high heat or drought. Whether you’re adding a beautiful ornamental tree for year-round interest or a fruit tree to enjoy homegrown harvests in the future, planting now means they’ll be well-settled and ready to burst into growth come spring. Just choose a sunny, sheltered spot with good drainage, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball, and don’t forget to stake young trees for support in windy conditions. A thick mulch around the base will help retain moisture and keep weeds at bay while they get established.
Hostas - Known for their lush foliage, Hostas are perfect for shady spots and look stunning in pots or borders. They do attract slugs and snails, so keep an eye out and use wildlife-friendly deterrents like copper tape or wool pellets.
Asters - These late-flowering perennials will brighten up your borders into autumn - they’re great for pollinators too! Plant in well-drained soil in a sunny spot for the best display, and keep deadheading to prolong flowering.
Heucheras - With colourful, evergreen foliage ranging from lime green to deep burgundy, Heucheras are fantastic for adding year-round interest. They thrive in shady or semi-shaded spots and look wonderful at the front of borders. Great for adding colour to shady or semi-shaded borders, Heucheras are easy to grow in well-drained soil and their evergreen foliage means they look good all year.
We currently have an offer on Hosters, Asters and Heuchera where you can get 3 for just £12 - a great way to stock your garden for less this September.
What to plant now for a tasty spring
September is a brilliant month for getting a head start on next year’s harvest, and there are plenty of crops you can plant right now to keep your garden productive. Garlic is a great place to start — towards the end of September is the perfect time to plant garlic cloves, as they’ll develop strong roots over winter and be ready to harvest next summer. Garlic is incredibly easy to grow - simply pop individual cloves (15cm apart) into free-draining soil in a sunny spot, with the pointed tip 2.5cm below the surface of the soil.
Broad beans are another excellent choice, giving you an early crop next spring; sow them in a sheltered spot and, if frost threatens, protect young seedlings with cloches. You can also keep the salad bowl going by planting winter-hardy lettuce varieties — these can go straight into the ground, raised beds, or pots, and will appreciate a cosy fleece or cold frame for protection through the chillier months. For something more long-term, perennial herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage are perfect to plant now, settling in before winter so they burst into growth next spring. Choose a sunny, well-drained position and you’ll have fresh, homegrown flavour right on your doorstep (and in your food) year after year.
Other jobs to do in the garden in September
This is the month for tidying, pruning, and preparing your garden for the cooler months ahead. Here’s our checklist:
- Cut back faded perennials – Remove spent stems and tidy up foliage. Compost what you can.
- Prune climbing roses – Tie in new growth and cut back spent flowering stems.
- Harvest & store – Pick any remaining fruit and veg, and store or preserve them.
- Lawn care – Rake out moss and thatch, reseed bare patches, and give it an autumn feed.
- Collect seeds – Gather seeds from annuals and perennials to sow next year.
- Clean pots & tools – A bit of TLC now will save you time in spring.
For us, September in the garden is about balance — enjoying the last bursts of summer colour while getting everything ready for the seasons ahead. Every bulb you plant, every perennial you pop in the ground, every tidy-up job you do is setting the stage for a gorgeous spring and a healthy garden next year.
And if you need advice, a little inspiration, or simply a place to enjoy the sights and scents of the season, our lovely team at Hilltop Garden Centre in Clacton are always ready to welcome you. Pop in to ask our team any gardening or plant-related questions, and don't forget to enjoy a visit to our restaurant while you're here - after all, gardening is best enjoyed with a slice of cake and a good cuppa!
