Here's what to do in the October garden

There’s plenty to do in the October garden. It’s all about clearing and cleaning up, planting and moving, and getting ready for autumn rains and winds. It can be a bit of a scramble to do what’s necessary before the weather turns against us. But who knows what October's weather will be like? It can be lovely so get out there and enjoy it! Read on for our essential October gardening tips.

Clear up and clean up to get rid of pests and diseases

Empty all the faded and finished contents of summer pots and hanging baskets onto the compost heap. Clean the pots and baskets and put them in the shed so they won’t blow around or get damaged by frost.

Clear old crops from the vegetable plot and put them on the compost heap so there are no hiding places for pests and diseases on the plot over the winter. Gather up canes and plant supports that you're not using and store them indoors over the winter. Do the same with hoses and drip-feed systems, so they don't freeze and split.

Clear fallen leaves from your lawn, path or road to keep the place looking tidy and, once again, to reduce hiding places for pests and diseases. Make your own leaf mould for use as garden compost – read our blog about how to do it.

Clean the greenhouse, washing the glass to let in as much daylight as possible, and clearing away debris that – you guessed it – can be a hiding place for pests and diseases. Clean out and disinfect bird boxes.

Check plants you’re bringing into the greenhouse or the house itself for the winter in case they are harbouring any pests and diseases.

We’re not against all wildlife! In the garden, build a log pile at the back of a border for wildlife to shelter. You could also pile up the more woody hedge trimmings material into a ‘dead hedge’, tucked away behind the shed or the compost where it will become a very good home for wildlife.

Plant and move

The soil is warm and moist in the October garden, ideal conditions for plants to grow. It’s a good time to plant:

• winter bedding and spring bulbs (such as jewel-bright crocus and daffodils) in the lawn
• spring cabbage (it's full of vitamin C, anti-bacterial and apparently helps you fight chest infections)
• bare-root fruit trees and bushes (Apple Day is on 21^st October).

It's also a good time to divide large clumps of perennials to make more plants for you, your friends and family.

Spring cabbage. © Tony Austin and re-used under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Prepare for autumn rains and gales in the October garden

There will be rain, so remove and store any pot saucers from under your plant pots. Put the pots up on ‘feet’ or stones to stop them getting waterlogged or frozen over winter.

There will be wind, so cut back shrub roses which have mostly finished flowering now, and other tall summer-flowering shrubs.

Shrub rose 'Charmian'. © T.Kiya and reused under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

As I said, there's plenty to do! Make sure you take time to sit down to admire your beautiful garden and your hard work.