10 things to do in the garden during October
Golden days
Autumn is a time of year I really love. The days are getting shorter so make the most of good gardening weather whenever you get the chance. Wrap up warm, get outdoors and enjoy your garden’s tremendous show of seasonal colour.
Winter jewels
A good weekend job is to plant up some cheerful pots of winter colour. Evergreen shrubs, Hellebores, Cyclamen and winter flowering Violas and Pansies make great displays, often lasting until early spring.
One of the best things about the garden in October is the abundance of berried plants, which really come into their own at this time of year. Cotoneaster, Pyracantha and Viburnum will add colour and interest, as well as attracting birds.
The final cut
Prune climbing roses and ramblers and, if shrub roses have grown a little tall, reduce their height by about a third to reduce the risk of wind damage.
Spring blooms
Plant your Narcissus, Alliums and other spring flowering bulbs while the soil is still warm and the bulbs can develop roots before winter. As a rule of thumb, bulbs should be planted at a depth of around three times their size. Plant in clusters for maximum effect.
Put down roots
In the veg patch, I leave the roots of French and Runner beans in the ground and just clear away the foliage. The roots fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and release it into the soil making it available for your next crops.
Clean house
It’s a good time to give your greenhouse a thorough clean. Washing the glass with plenty of warm water will help to maximise the light over your winter seedlings.
Ripe for success
Autumn is the best time to plant fruit trees. From apples and plums to figs and quince, the garden centre has a plentiful choice right now. Choose a sunny sheltered spot and dig a planting hole twice the size of the pot. Give the tree a good soak before placing into the hole, keeping the soil levels the same. Back fill, firm in and water well.
Rake out
Scarify lawns where there has been a build-up of thatch or moss. Hire a machine or rake off vigorously if you have a small lawn. Top-dress thin areas with gritty compost and over-sow while there is still warmth in the ground.
Leafy greens
If you do just one gardening job this month, make some leaf mould. It’s a free and easy way to enrich your soil. Place the leaves into a bin liner, moisten them if they are dry, then pierce holes in the bag with a knife or garden fork, tie the top loosely and stack the bags out of sight for up to two years.
Skimmia japonica are low-maintenance, slow-growing evergreen shrubs that are ideal for borders or containers. Their spring flowers are followed in autumn and winter by red berries and glossy green foliage, providing a much-needed splash of colour in the garden when little else is looking good. It’s the plant that keeps on giving all year round!
