Things I want to achieve in September 2026
The garden continues to look good and in good order, but with a few corners that still need love, but on the whole it is technically organised. There is nothing like having to keep it looking good just in case someone might want to conduct an interview in it! The joys of writing a gardening book!
This month I’m working on a ‘trust the process’ model. Last year I decided to actually take advantage of my frost free, ‘subtropical’ climate and ‘go early’ and surprisingly it worked, so I’m doing it again this year. It still feels strange.
As for the rest of the garden, I need to keep doing what I’ve been doing – staying in control and taking chunks out of projects and keeping all of the extra ideas safe so I don’t lose them.
GARDEN GARDENING
- Weekly weeding of all sectors.
- Continue with bricks in paths.
- Trap possums.
- Finish enriching soil for new crops.
- Continue sowing seeds and caring for seedlings.
- Prepare growing structures.
- Test and fix irrigation.
- Feed growing crops.
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN
Sector 1
- Lower herb frames.
Sector 2
- Clear out remaining beds once finished.
- Plant Potatoes
Sector 3
- Eat root crops and leafy greens.
- Tidy up beside the shed.
- Clear out remaining beds once finished.
Sector 4
- Set up irrigation through this area.
- Finish washing pots.
- Prune elderberry.
- Finish office makeover.
- Replace damaged fence palings.
- Fix toolshed storm damage.
- Train grape.
- Tidy up beside the shed.
Sector 5
- Fix hole in irrigation pipe.
- Build a blueberry cage.
- Feed and mulch fruit trees.
- Build a windbreak gate.
- Mulch strawberries.
- There is a garden bed on my garden plan that is listed as “weeds.” This needs to change.
- Buy currants and maybe some blackberries.
THE PALACE:
Room 1
- Add new windbreak.
- Feed hedge.
- Rock maintenance.
- Add brackets to stairs.
Room 2
- Refresh the bark mulch.
- Fill gaps with plants.
- Get plaque for time capsule.
- Refresh the bark mulch.
- Add windbreak.
Room 3
- Weed regularly.
- Protect roses from possums.
- Add feed and compost.
- Prune and train hedge.
- Learn maintenance needs.
BEYOND THE GARDEN
- Deadhead spring flowers.
- Maintain backdoor area.
- Weed and Feed Lawn.
- Spray lawn for Onehunga prickles.
- Weedeat swingseat path.
- Weedeat along fence line.
- Level along fence line and add brick mowing strip.
- Remove strawbale remains
- Fix address sign.
- Paint maintenance of dolphins.
- Repot houseplants.
OTHER PROJECTS – for when I have time.
- Landscape around the swing seat.
- Weed around trees on windbreak hill.
- Plant more trees on windbreak hill.
- Weed Waterfall.
- Investigate ‘hill art’ project.
- Build plants in pots station.
- Makeover chicken coup.
KITCHEN GARDENING
- Something from the garden in every meal.
- Check stored crops for rot.
- Make jams from frozen fruit.