It’s September and there’s lots to be done in the flower garden.

True, the herbaceous perennials and hydrangeas Anabelle and Limelight are looking the worse for wear after the wet August we’ve just had, but even with all the rain, ground conditions are not overly wet.

Second flush

The likes of dahlias and sedums are doing well and if astrantias and alstroemerias were cut back after flowering earlier in the summer, they should be producing a second flush of flowers around now.

That would also apply to roses with Gertrude Jekyll, one of the very popular David Austin roses also delivering a second flush of highly fragrant roses at this time of year.

Damp

The soil is damp, but it’s also warm, so now is a great time to be thinking of dividing your herbaceous perennials.

These are the plants that reliably turn up in your garden year after year.

If they are growing strongly, they must like the conditions they live in, so why not take advantage and build up your stocks for free.

On Tuesday afternoon at the Ploughing, we will be joined by expert plants man and nursery owner Robert Miller.

Robert owns Altamont Plant Sales, which is located right alongside Altamont Gardens, famous for its snowdrop and rose collections.

Altamont is just off the Ballon to Bunclody road and is well worth a visit.

Snowdrop month

Robert is one of the organisers behind what is now snowdrop month, which takes place all across Co Carlow in the month of February.

If you have caught the snowdrop collecting bug, then it would be hard to beat Robert’s collection, which spans the growing period from November to April.

Robert will be in the Irish Country Living lounge from 2.30pm on Tuesday, where he will be talking about what looks good in the garden now and the jobs you could be getting on with that will bear fruit next year.

Come along and say hello. This is a free event and all are welcome.