Gardeners urged to avoid simple mistake in September

Gardeners are urged to avoid a key mistake as the colder autumn and winter months loom. As summer comes to an end and the shorter days of autumn arrive, there's still plenty of time to sow seeds and get a harvest from quick-growing crops like radish before the chill sets in.

And while plant lovers are making various preparations for the harsher conditions on the way later in the year, one job requires only some restraint. Penny Hemming, head gardener at the Riverford Field Kitchen in Devon said while the peak of the growing season has passed, " September still offers plenty of meaningful jobs for the productive garden", and advises against neatening things up too much.

She added: "In ornamental beds, leave stems and seed heads standing through winter. Penny says though they may look 'a bit scruffy', they're 'a haven for insects'".

"Frost sits beautifully on seed heads, and their hollow stems offer vital shelter to insects. So only cut back where needed," Penny added, as per Home Building.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) also cautions about getting overboard with the secateurs, as seed heads are great for avian creatures when there's less sustainance around.

"Winter seed heads provide precious food for birds and other wildlife when pickings are thin," the organisation explains on its website.

Plants' dead stems can also "help protect your soil from frost damage", it continues.

"Feel free to collect some seeds to sow in late summer and autumn but be sure to leave plenty for garden creatures to snack on."

However, there are plenty of pruning jobs to complete this month which are important for staving off fungal diseases in your garden.

Some fast-growing plants will also appreciate a few snips before autumn arrives in earnest, as it helps keep their shape when temperatures drop, while minimising any potential damage.

You can find out more info on which plants should be prioritised for pruning here.