In The Flower Garden This October

October is a time of change and preparation in the flower garden. While some flowers are still blooming, many are beginning to fade, and it’s the perfect time to tidy, plant, and prepare for both winter and next spring.

Here are your top flower garden tips for October:

🌼 Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs 

Now is the ideal time to plant: 

• Daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses, alliums, chionodoxa
• Tulips – wait until late October or November to reduce risk of tulip fire (fungal disease)

🛠️ Tip: Use a bulb planter for easy planting. Plant at 2–3 times the depth of the bulb. 

🌹 Deadhead & Tidy 

• Deadhead late-flowering perennials and bedding to extend flowering (e.g. dahlias, cosmos).
• Remove yellowing or diseased leaves.
• Cut down faded herbaceous perennials – or leave seed heads for winter interest and wildlife.
• Clear annuals that have gone over and compost them.

🍂 Lift & Store Tender Plants 

Dahlias, cannas, begonias, and gladioli should be lifted after the first frost:

• Cut back stems 
• Dry the tubers/corms 
• Store in a cool, dry, frost-free place 

🌷 Divide & Replant Perennials 

Divide overcrowded spring- and summer-flowering perennials, such as: 

• Hostas
• Geraniums (hardy)
• Daylilies 

Replant divided clumps to rejuvenate growth and create more plants. 

🌱 Plant New Perennials & Shrubs 

October is a great time to plant while the soil is still warm: 

• New roses, shrubs, trees, and perennials
• Water in well and mulch to retain moisture. 

🐝 Support Wildlife 

• Leave some seed heads (like echinacea, teasel, rudbeckia) for birds.
• Avoid too much tidying—leave small piles of leaves or sticks for insects and hedgehogs.
• Plant late-flowering nectar sources like asters and sedums to help pollinators.

🍁 Collect Seeds 

• Gather and dry seeds from annuals and perennials for sowing next year (label clearly). 
• Store in paper envelopes in a cool, dry place. 

🧼 Clean & Maintain 

• Wash and store empty pots, seed trays, and tools.
• Clean greenhouse glass to maximise light over winter.
• Check for damaged structures or supports before winter gales.

🌾 Lawn & Border Care 

• Edge borders for a neat look.
• Rake and compost fallen leaves (or make leaf mould).
• Plant wildflower plugs or sow meadow seed mixes if the soil is still warm enough.