Gardening Month by Month - October

OCTOBER GARDENING

Unfortunately the winter months are upon us. It's dark fairly early at nights now and there is a chill in the air, especially in the mornings and at nights. The leaves on the trees are starting to turn and change colour before they fall to the ground. The garden is dying back and the growth of the plants has stopped or certainly slowed right back down.

It's time to pack up the garden, put the tools away and sit indoors – NOT!!!

There is still quite a bit to do around the garden in October, well you didn't expect this to be a part-time job did you?

The main tasks and priorities this month are:

Putting some effort into planting now will start your new garden off up to a month earlier next year, ensuring that you get the most enjoyment from it.

If you haven't done it already, get those spring flowering bulbs in the ground now. When choosing the bulbs, go for disease free bulbs and add some bone meal or bulb fertiliser into the ground as you plant them.

If any plants will require frost protection, now is the time to get it in place, before the really cold nights start to become prevalent towards the end of the month.

Mulching around newly planted perennials will ensure the ground is kept warmer around them and allows an easier winter as they get hardened up to the extremes of weather.

Collecting seeds from dying plants and flowers now can be an interesting aspect of gardening. Of course you can buy them but collecting your own and growing them is much more rewarding!

The slugs and snails will be easier to find now as the wetter weather brings them out. Get rid of as many as you can to help the garden next year.

Clear up any dropping leaves and dead plants around the garden should also be removed. If you make your own compost, remember that these make excellent composting materials.

By the end of the month you will have put the lawn mower away!!! YIPEE!!!

Make sure that all your tools are put away after cleaning and adding a drop of oil to stop rusting.

Make sure that you tie up those climbing plants. I've lost much good growth on climbers to winter winds due to the stems not being secured properly.

Prune your evergreens into shape, keeping them neat and stop them from starting next year already in a straggly mess.

Some extra soil around the bases of fushias and roses helps protect their tender roots through the winter months and October is as good a time as any to get this done. Basically prepare the garden for the cold winter months to come and it'll pay dividends.