Gardening Tips for October

To do:

• Plant spring bedding such as Wallflowers and winter Pansies for a beautiful spring display.
• Time to think about protecting half hardy plants with a fleece or bring into a frost-free greenhouse
• Autumn is a perfect time to plant Clematis plants.
• October is the ideal time to move shrubs and trees and also plant hedging.
• Hardwood cutting can be taken now from deciduous shrubs.
• Clear up fallen rose leaves to prevent disease – don’t compost the leaves as it will spread disease.
• Prune climbing roses and rambling roses and tie the stems back to prevent damage from strong winds.
• Tidy borders and mulch with bark or well-rotted manure to insulate the roots of plants.
• Start planning for next years crops, for beans start preparing the ground now with adding some manure now ready for next year.
• Plant autumn garlic and onions for a crop next summer.
• Move citrus tree inside away from cold draughts and reduce watering.
• Blueberry plants can be planted now but remember to use a acid compost.
• Autumn is a great time to plant fruit tree, ready to enjoy fresh fruit straight from the tree.
• Wrap glue bands around the trunks of apple trees to trap winter moth, this stops the caterpillars eating the spring flowers.
• Use a winter tree wash to kill any overwintering pests.
• Time to remove the summer greenhouse shading, then clean and disinfect the greenhouse before insulating ready for the winter.
• A last mow can be done this month ready to be left over winter – weather depending.
• Keep raking leaves and dead plant material from the garden to prevent disease and fungi spores.
• To keep ponds fresh place some pond netting over the pond to stop leaves falling into the water.
• Give evergreen hedges a finally trim before the worst of the winter weather sets in.
• Raise pots from the ground to prevent water logging. Use pot feet or bricks.
• Lastly don’t forget the gardeners feathered friend, make sure there is a water supply for the birds and feed they will reward you by keeping the pest number down in your garden