This week in the garden . . .

Autumn-fruiting raspberries such as “Autumn Bliss” and “Joan J” are still producing bowlfuls of delicious fruit, which need to be netted against birds. If you don’t yet grow these useful plants, it’s well worth finding a space for them in the garden. Canes should be planted in the dormant season (November-March) and are available from a wide range of suppliers including Wexford-based English Fruit Nursery (englishfruitnursery.ie)

September is a good month to give hedges a trim as young birds will have flown their nests, but don’t leave it much later as plants can then be damaged by cold weather. Cut from the bottom up, and lay a plastic sheet on the ground to collect clippings. Finally, if using electrical trimmers/ladders take proper safety precautions.

Keep harvesting apples as they ripen. Remember that most early varieties aren’t suitable for storage and these should be eaten/used as soon as possible, while late varieties will store for up to six months if kept somewhere cool and dry.

Runner beans are still producing bumper harvests of long juicy pods. Put some aside for the winter by blanching, bagging and freezing them.

Continue cutting lawns but raise the height of the blades. September’s also a good month to “scarify” a lawn by raking it vigorously with a spring-tined rake to remove moss/dead grass. With compacted lawns, use a garden fork to spike the turf, which will also help with aeration and improve growth.