Mimosa Garden Services September Newsletter
IS YOUR GARDEN READY FOR A CHANGING CLIMATE?
Hotter summers, longer dry spells and periods of heavier rainfall are becoming increasingly noticeable in our gardens. As our weather becomes less predictable, it’s worth thinking a little differently about how our gardens are planned, planted and cared for.
At Mimosa, we’re increasingly looking at ways to create beautiful, climate-resilient gardens that can cope better with both extremes – working with water, rather than against it.
One particularly interesting approach is the rain garden. Along with swales and wadi-inspired planting, rain gardens are designed to temporarily collect and slow rainwater during periods of heavy rainfall. Water from roofs, patios and other areas can be directed towards a shallow planted area, where it can gradually soak back into the ground. For most of the year, it simply looks like an attractive part of the garden.
Combined with carefully selected plants, improved soil, mulching, rainwater harvesting and efficient irrigation, these techniques can help gardens cope better with increasingly unpredictable weather.
Small changes can make a difference.
There are plenty of ways to make an established garden more resilient:
– Capture rainwater when it’s plentiful.
– Improve your soil to help it retain moisture.
– Choose plants that are suited to heat and periods of drought.
– Mulch borders to help reduce moisture loss.
– Use targeted irrigation to water more efficiently.
– Plant trees and shrubs to provide shade, shelter and habitat.
🌱 WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE GARDEN THIS SEPTEMBER?
September is one of those lovely crossover months. Summer isn’t quite finished, but the garden is already beginning to transition into autumn. It’s the perfect time to take stock after the summer.
Give lawns some attention
After periods of summer heat and heavy use, lawns can look tired, thin and patchy.
September’s cooler temperatures and increased moisture make it an excellent time for lawn renovation. Scarifying removes accumulated thatch, while overseeding restores thin or worn areas and encourages a denser, healthier lawn.
At Mimosa, we can also use our Turfbuddy professional overseeder, which places grass seed directly into the existing lawn rather than simply spreading it across the surface. This gives the seed better contact with the soil and can help achieve more consistent establishment.
Start planting again
Autumn is one of our favourite times for planting. The soil retains its warmth as temperatures begin to cool, giving trees, shrubs and perennials time to establish their roots before winter. If you’ve been considering redesigning or refreshing a border, the coming months are an excellent time to do it.
Divide overcrowded perennials
Many established herbaceous perennials can be lifted and divided as they finish flowering. It’s a simple way of rejuvenating older plants while creating additional plants for elsewhere in the garden.
Keep deadheading
Don’t give up on summer colour just yet. Continue deadheading dahlias, roses and other repeat-flowering plants and many will continue flowering well into autumn.
Think about water
September is also a useful time to notice what happens in your garden when it rains heavily. Where does water collect, and does it drain away quickly or sit on the surface? Could water pouring from a downpipe be captured and reused rather than going straight into the drainage system?
Observing your garden during periods of rain can reveal opportunities for rainwater harvesting, improved drainage or even an attractive rain garden.
🌸 Plants of the Month
Perovskia – Russian Sage
With its clouds of soft violet-blue flowers and silvery aromatic foliage, Perovskia is a wonderful plant for bringing colour and movement to the late-summer garden.
Why we love it
Flowering well into September, it is also a fantastic plant for bees and other pollinating insects.
Where it thrives
Perovskia thrives in a sunny position and, once established, copes particularly well with hot and dry conditions. It prefers free-draining soil and requires relatively little maintenance, making it an excellent choice for sunny borders and gravel-style planting.
Perfect for climate-resilient planting
Its drought tolerance, long flowering season and wildlife value makes it a great example of how thoughtful plant selection can help us create beautiful gardens that are better prepared for a changing climate.
Planting tip
Plant it alongside ornamental grasses and other drought-tolerant perennials for a relaxed, naturalistic display that continues looking good into autumn.
🌿 SEPTEMBER INSPIRATION
This month, take a look around your garden with a slightly different question in mind:
“How could this garden cope better with the weather of the future?”
It might mean creating more shade with a small tree, or replacing a thirsty plant that struggles every summer.
Perhaps it’s adding a water butt, improving the soil, mulching your borders, or turning a poorly drained corner into an attractive rain garden.
Climate-resilient gardening doesn’t necessarily mean completely changing the character of your garden. It’s about making thoughtful choices now that can help make your garden healthier, easier to manage and more resilient in the years ahead.
🌼 LOOKING AHEAD
Autumn is approaching, making the next few months an important period for garden maintenance, planting and improvement.
Whether you’re considering an autumn tidy, new planting, border improvements, lawn renovation or would like to explore how your garden could become more climate resilient, we’d be delighted to help.
Warm regards,
Basil
Mimosa Garden Services Ltd
Creating beautiful, thriving gardens 🌿