I'm a gardening expert - avoid these 3 key mistakes in September

Gardeners should avoid incredibly common mistakes that can hamper their gardens' success over the months ahead. Niall, a content creator and avid gardener, shares tips on his Niall Gardens YouTube channel, providing detailed advice on how to keep plants happy and healthy.

In a video published last month that's racked up more than 10,000 views, he laid out three main things to get sorted in September. Niall says contrary to popular belief, September is a month "full of critical jobs that can affect your success next year".

Despite his years of gardening experience, the plant lover says he still makes the same mistakes "over and over", and explained the main ways to ensure "you're not caught out when Spring arrives".

The first mistake people make is believing it's too late in the year to sow seeds, Niall says.

He says there's a "common belief that flower seed sowing is something that we leave behind in Spring, and in a way that does make sense for many tender annuals", he said.

But if you're only sowing during springtime, "you're missing a major opportunity", because the early Autumn conditions we're currently experiencing make it the "perfect time" to get hardy annuals sown, the green-fingered YouTuber adds.

These include plants like Orange Calendula, Cornflower, Honey Wart (AKA Cerinthe major), or Nigella.

As their name suggests, hardy plants are known for being better able to persist in tougher conditions, including low temperatures and limited sunlight.

If you plant them now while the soil and weather is still warm, they will "germinate really quickly" and "establish strong roots" meaning by Spring you'll have hardened, well-established plants "ready to go straight into the ground and get going", he continues.

The second blunder people fall victim to is leaving it too late to plant spring bulbs.

He acknowledges that there are good reasons to delay some bulb planting, as some, like Tulips, can benefit from it.

But the mistake is treating all bulbs the same and leaving it to the last minute, which results in a major, labour-intensive job just when the weather and short days are starting to work against you.

Niall says some "actually prefer to be planted now, in September", including Alliums, Wood Anemones, and Camassias.

Others, like daffodils, flourish when planted in late September, and Tulips in November.

The third oversight is putting off the garden clean-up. Niall says he's a "big fan of leaving seed heads for birds" and stems for overwintering insects.

But the mistake is leaving everything as it is, as it can have dire consequences for some plants.

Some plants can smother others when they collapse, causing rot or fungal issues, he warned. Overgrown foliage can also become a "hiding place for pests and diseases that you don't want overwintering".

Letting everything run wild and free can also leave your plot looking like an eyesore, rather than the calming environment it should be.

Rather than letting the clean up build up until it becomes a daunting and joyless task, he recommends cutting back "little and often", prioritising plants that "are already finished that you know aren't going to have a second flush of growth or flower".

You can find a more detailed breakdown of how to avoid common September pitfalls on Niall's .