September Gardening Checklist

September marks the start of autumn and it’s one of the busiest times of the year for gardeners. As the weather cools and daylight hours shorten, your garden needs extra attention to prepare for the months ahead. A few key tasks in September can keep your outdoor space healthy, tidy, and ready to thrive when spring returns. In this guide, our Norwich gardening experts share a practical checklist tailored to local homeowners. From lawn care and hedge trimming to leaf clearance and mulching, these tips will help you stay on top of seasonal gardening jobs.

9/25/20252 min read

Why September Matters for Norwich Gardens

Norwich’s mild but damp climate means autumn can bring heavy rainfall, falling leaves, and a sudden slowdown in plant growth. If you ignore your garden now, you risk patchy lawns, overgrown hedges, and beds smothered in debris. By taking action in September, you:

Protect lawns from moss and weeds
Keep hedges and shrubs neat before growth stops
Prepare soil and beds for winter planting
Maintain a garden that looks tidy through autumn and beyond

1. Tidy and Mow the Lawn

Mow your lawn less frequently than in summer, but don’t stop completely. Keep grass at around 4–5cm to protect roots from frost. Use a strimmer or edging tool to tidy borders. For patchy lawns, September is ideal for overseeding and applying autumn fertiliser.

Tip: Our lawn care services in Norwich include mowing, reseeding, scarifying, and seasonal feeding.

2. Prune and Trim Hedges

Most hedges in Norwich benefit from a final trim in early autumn. This keeps them neat and prevents them becoming overgrown during winter. Use sharp shears or a hedge trimmer, and always check for nesting birds before you start.

Service highlight: We offer professional hedge trimming in Norwich, ensuring clean cuts and tidy results.

3. Clear Leaves and Debris

Falling leaves may look beautiful, but left on the lawn they can block sunlight and encourage moss. Rake or blow leaves into piles, and use them for compost or mulch. This is especially important in Norwich’s tree-lined gardens where leaf build-up happens quickly.

4. Mulch Beds and Borders

September is a great time to apply mulch around flowerbeds and shrubs. Mulching helps lock in soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate temperature as cooler weather arrives. Use compost, bark or well-rotted manure for best results.

5. Plant Autumn Flowers and Bulbs

Brighten your garden with seasonal colour by planting hardy flowers such as pansies, cyclamen and violas. It’s also the perfect month to plant spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips, giving you a burst of colour when winter ends.

6. General Garden Maintenance

Weeding, pruning dead branches and clearing away summer growth are essential to keep your garden tidy. A quick autumn tidy-up now saves you hours of work in spring.

Final Thoughts

September is the perfect month for garden maintenance in Norwich. With a clear checklist — mowing, trimming, mulching, planting, and clearing leaves — you’ll set your outdoor space up for success through autumn and winter.

For help with your garden this season, contact Norwich Garden Services today for a free quote. Let us take care of the hard work while you enjoy your outdoor space.