October
In The Flower Garden This October
Prune rambling and climbing roses once they’ve finished flowering, and tie in the stems before autumn winds cause damage.
You can take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs now.
Lift dahlia tubers, begonia tubers and gladioli corms to store over the winter months. Remove any dead foliage before storing them.
Clear overhanging plants from pathways to maintain access around the garden.
After tidying borders, mulch with bark chips, well rotted manure, leaf mould or spent mushroom compost to insulate plant roots for the winter and keep weed growth in check.
This month is the ideal time to plant hedges, edible hedging and move trees and shrubs.
Clear up fallen rose leaves to prevent diseases such as black spot from over-wintering. To aviod the spread of damaging fungi, don’t compost the leaves.
Cut back perennial plants that have died down. Alternatively leave the dead foliage in place to shelter friendly wildlife.
Top Tips:
Life and divide any overcrowded herbaceous perennials whilst the soil is still warm.
This Month's Key Tips
- Clear up fallen autumn leaves on a regular basis.
- Cut back perennials that have died down.
- Harvest fruit trees - apples and pears.
- Move tender plants into the greenhouse for winter.
- Renovate old lawns or create new grass areas by laying turf.
