Month by Month Gardening Calendar - 10 October

With the dark nights getting longer and temperatures starting to take a turn, this is the month you'll notice the leaves turning from green to orange in preparation for autumn. This is a great time to add your garden waste to the compost heap or to use leaves to start making leafmould. 

There is a potential for frosts in October, so be sure to bring tender perennials indoors to shelter them from frost damage. There is also the potential for strong winds and increased rainfall in October, so it's worth keeping an eye on the forecast.

October is the time to plant trees and shrubs. Start by removing all traces of weed then prepare the soil with organic matter or our superior coir along with some farmyard manure.

Plan ahead for next year by getting your spring bulbs planted from now but save the tulip bulbs for November!

Take a look at the full list of gardening jobs for October below. 

Ornamental Garden:

• Mulch borders with compost if not done in the spring.
• Continue deadheading if weather is mild.
• Remove fallen leaves from roses to prevent blackspot.
• Continue to tidy borders of weeds and leaves.
• Transplant any plants that need to be moved.
• Plant spring bulbs such as daffodils etc. But not tulips – wait until November to avoid tulip blight.
• Lift and divide perennials.  
• Plant up containers etc. for winter bedding displays.
• Now is a good time to plant trees and shrubs while the soil is moist and warm.
• Sow sweet peas under glass.
• Can lift summer flowering bulbs/tubers and overwinter in the greenhouse or can heavily mulch plants and leave in the ground. E.g. gladioli, dahlia, canna.
• Cut back herbaceous perennials as they die back.
• Prune climbing roses to avoid wind rock.
  
  
  Other Garden Jobs:
  • Refill bird feeders regularly.
  • Install insect hotels/log piles.
  • Apply autumn lawn feed.
  • Add garden waste to your compost heap.