October Jobs

OCTOBER

Ornamental Garden:

• Mulch borders with compost if not done in the spring.
• Continue deadheading if weather is mild.
• Remove fallen leaves from roses to prevent blackspot.
• Continue to tidy borders of weeds and leaves.
• Transplant any plants that need to be moved.
• Plant spring bulbs such as daffodils etc. But NOT tulips – wait until November to avoid tulip blight.
• Lift and divide perennials.  
• Plant up containers etc. for winter bedding displays.
• Apply autumn lawn feed etc.
• Now is a good time to plant trees and shrubs – the soil is moist and warm.
• Sow sweet peas under glass.
• Can lift summer flowering bulbs / tubers and overwinter in greenhouse or can heavily mulch plants and leave in the ground. E.g. gladioli, dahlia, canna.
• Cut back herbaceous perennials as they die back.
• Prune climbing roses to avoid wind rock.
• Refill bird feeders regularly.
• Install insect hotels / log piles.

Vegetable Garden:

• Begin planting garlic
• Apply fleece to late season crops when frost is forecast.
• Lift and divide rhubarb.
• Clear away old foliage of strawberries to prevent pest and diseases.
• Pot up herbs and take into frost free greenhouse or windowsill to continue cropping through the winter.  
• Complete planting onion setts and plant out spring cabbage.
• Harvest squash and pumpkin if not already done so.

Written by: Alex Bell, www.alexbellgardendesign.co.uk