Open today 9:00 - 17:00
Open today 9:00 - 17:00
October brings cooler temperatures, shorter days and increasing rainfall, but the soil often remains warm enough for planting and establishing roots. It is an important month for planting spring bulbs, trees, shrubs and perennials, while falling leaves and the first frosts signal the start of winter preparations. Harvesting continues in the kitchen garden, and tender plants need protection as temperatures fall.
October is a good time to plant container-grown trees, shrubs, roses and climbers while the soil is still relatively warm and becoming naturally moist. Avoid planting into waterlogged ground, and keep newly planted specimens watered during dry spells while they establish.
Deciduous trees and shrubs can be moved once they are becoming dormant, particularly later in the month. Wait until leaf fall where possible and choose a period when the soil is moist but not saturated.
Continue planting daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, alliums and other spring-flowering bulbs in borders, containers and suitable areas of lawn. Plant tulips later in autumn where possible, as cooler conditions can help reduce the risk of tulip fire.
Plant hardy herbaceous perennials while the soil retains some warmth and moisture. Established clumps that have become congested or are flowering poorly can also be lifted and divided, provided conditions are suitable.
Climbing roses can be pruned in autumn once flowering has finished, removing damaged or unwanted growth and tying in suitable new stems. Rambling roses can also be pruned after flowering if this has not already been done.
Tall bush roses and vigorous shrubs that are normally pruned hard in spring can be shortened if necessary where long growth is vulnerable to autumn and winter winds. Leave their main pruning until the appropriate time for the plant.
Check ties, wires, stakes and supports before autumn gales arrive. Secure loose stems on climbers and replace ties that are damaged or becoming too tight.
Remove collapsed, diseased or damaged perennial growth, but there is no need to clear every border. Leaving healthy stems and seedheads through winter can provide food and shelter for wildlife as well as structure in the garden.
Continue harvesting apples, pears, quinces, grapes and autumn-fruiting raspberries as they ripen. Ripening times vary between varieties and locations, so judge fruit by its condition rather than the calendar alone.
Remove spent vegetable plants as crops finish and add healthy material to the compost heap. Pea and bean plants can be cut off at soil level, leaving the roots to break down in the ground and return organic matter to the soil.
Plant garlic cloves and finish planting overwintering onion sets into well-drained soil. Avoid ground that stays wet through winter, as bulbs are more likely to rot in persistently waterlogged conditions.
Hardy varieties of broad beans and overwintering peas can be sown outdoors in mild, sheltered gardens for an earlier crop next year. In colder or wetter areas, spring sowing is often more reliable.
As temperatures fall, harvest remaining outdoor tomatoes before frost damages the fruit. Underripe tomatoes can be brought indoors to continue ripening, while sound green fruit can also be used for cooking or preserves.
Inspect stored apples and other fruit regularly and remove any showing signs of rot. Good air circulation and prompt removal of damaged fruit help prevent decay spreading through the crop.
Move tender and half-hardy plants such as pelargoniums into a frost-free greenhouse, conservatory or other suitable sheltered space before damaging frosts arrive. Reduce watering as growth slows, but do not allow plants to dry out completely.
Where dahlias need winter protection, wait until frost has blackened the foliage before lifting the tubers for frost-free storage. In milder gardens with free-draining soil, established plants may be left in the ground beneath a protective mulch.
Lift tender bulbs and corms that are unlikely to survive winter outdoors in your garden. Gladioli and other frost-sensitive plants are more vulnerable in cold areas and heavy, wet soils than in mild gardens with good drainage.
Replace exhausted summer displays with hardy seasonal plants such as violas, winter pansies and other suitable autumn and winter bedding. Raise vulnerable containers onto pot feet where necessary so excess winter rain can drain freely.
October can still provide suitable conditions for scarifying and aerating lawns, particularly where thatch or compaction is a problem. Carry out the work while grass is still growing and avoid very wet, dry, frosty or waterlogged conditions.
Grass may continue growing well into autumn, so mow when necessary rather than stopping on a fixed date. Raise the cutting height slightly and avoid mowing when the ground is saturated or frosty.
Regularly clear heavy accumulations of fallen leaves so they do not block light and smother the grass. Collected leaves can be used to make leaf mould.
Autumn conditions can be good for laying new turf because the soil is moist and grass can establish before winter. Grass seed may still germinate in warmer parts of the UK, but sowing becomes less reliable as soil temperatures fall.
Remove fallen leaves before they sink and decay in the water, or fit a net where leaf fall is heavy. Leave vegetation and debris removed from the pond beside the water for a short period so small creatures can return before the material is composted.
Gather leaves from lawns, paths and other areas where they cause problems, but do not feel obliged to remove them from every corner of the garden. Leaves can be composted into leaf mould, while small piles in quiet, sheltered areas provide useful habitat for garden wildlife.
Autumn is a suitable time to clean out nest boxes once you are certain they are no longer in use. Remove old nesting material and allow the box to dry thoroughly before replacing it.
Clear leaves and debris from gutters, drains and other areas where they could cause blockages. Check containers are draining freely and remove saucers where they are likely to leave plants standing in water over winter.
Visit us in Kington. October is an important month for autumn planting and preparing the garden for colder weather, so call in for spring-flowering bulbs, seasonal plants, seeds, garden tools and practical advice for the jobs you are tackling this month.
