What's happening in September
The autumn border at the bottom of the garden is filled with flowers and ornamental grasses that are at their best at this time of year. In the Kitchen Garden you can see a collection of outdoor tomato varieties, both bush and cordon, together with a range of herbs, soft fruit and cut-flowers.
The Coral plant (Berberidopsis corallina ) a climber on the front of the house, is looking wonderful. Watch out for the first tints of autumn on the maples and other ornamental trees and shrubs.
What the gardeners are doing this month:
We will finish cutting the Beech hedges that border the garden. Long grass that has been growing wildflowers will also be cut, now that all the flowers have seeded. We can begin to tidy some of the borders, deadheading plants that have finished, splitting and replanting any that need dividing.
Birds and wildlife to look out for:
Deer, foxes and rabbits are regular visitors to the gardens. Badgers have been foraging for the grubs in wasp and bumble bee nests.
The resident garden birds are much more visible than they were last month, having finished their summer moult. The swifts have departed for Africa already, the swallows and martins will soon be following.