October is a pivotal month for gardeners, marking the transition from autumn’s harvest to winter’s preparation. It’s the time to tidy up, protect vulnerable plants, and start laying the groundwork for a flourishing garden next spring. Let’s dive into the essential gardening jobs that should be on your to-do list this October.
1. Planting and Sowing in October
Though the growing season is winding down, there are still key plants and crops that benefit from being sown or planted now.
Spring Bulbs
October is prime time to plant spring bulbs like:
- Daffodils
- Tulips
- Crocuses
- Hyacinths
When planting bulbs, ensure they’re placed at the correct depth (usually 2-3 times their height) in well-drained soil. You’ll be rewarded with early spring colour that breathes life into the garden after the cold winter months.
Hardy Vegetables
Garlic and onion sets are perfect to plant now:
- Garlic: Plant individual cloves in well-drained soil and a sunny location. Garlic loves a long, cold period, which helps form strong, healthy bulbs by next summer.
- Onion sets: Like garlic, onions planted in autumn will establish over winter, giving you a head start on next year’s crop.
Broad beans are another great crop to sow in October. Varieties like 'Aquadulce Claudia' thrive when sown now, overwintering and producing an early spring harvest.
Winter Greens
If you want fresh greens over winter, now’s the time to plant winter lettuce, spinach, and chard. They thrive in cooler temperatures and can be sown in cold frames or covered with fleece to protect them from frost. Cloches will help extend the growing period, keeping them safe as temperatures dip.
2. Clearing and Tidying the Garden
As your summer crops and flowers die back, October is the time to tidy up the garden for winter.
Clear Spent Plants
Remove any old vegetable plants, dead annuals, and tired-looking summer flowers. This helps to:
- Prevent pests and diseases from overwintering in dead plant material.
- Clear the way for mulching and planting spring bulbs.
Compost healthy plant material but dispose of anything that shows signs of disease to avoid spreading problems next season.
Weeding and Mulching
- Weeding: With the ground softening from autumn rains, October is a good time to tackle those stubborn weeds. Removing them now will save you from battling them come spring.
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Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch around the base of trees, shrubs, and hardy perennials. Mulching with compost, leaf mould, or bark will:
- Retain soil moisture.
- Protect roots from freezing temperatures.
- Improve soil health by adding organic matter.
Tidy Borders and Beds
Cut back perennials like rudbeckia, lupins, and hollyhocks, removing dead stems and leaves to keep beds looking neat. However, leave some seed heads, like those of echinacea and teasel, to provide food for birds over winter.
3. Preparing Plants for Winter
Some plants need a bit of extra attention in October to ensure they survive the cold months.
Tender Plants
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Pelargoniums (Geraniums), dahlias, and fuchsias need to be lifted and stored somewhere frost-free.
- For dahlias, cut back the stems after the first frost, dig up the tubers, and store them in dry compost or sand.
- Pelargoniums can be brought indoors or into a greenhouse, where they’ll appreciate the shelter and warmth.
Hardy Perennials
Plants like lavender, heucheras, and sedums can survive the winter outdoors, but mulching around the base helps protect their roots from frost. Prune back dead or overgrown foliage to keep your garden neat.
Protect Young Trees and Shrubs
Wrap young trees or delicate shrubs with horticultural fleece to shield them from frost and cold winds. Use tree guards to protect the trunks from damage caused by wildlife like deer or rabbits.
4. Lawn Care in October
October is the last chance to give your lawn a little care before winter. Follow these steps to ensure a healthy lawn come spring:
Scarifying and Aerating
- Scarify the lawn by raking up moss, thatch, and dead grass to improve airflow.
- Aerate using a garden fork or aerator to reduce soil compaction and allow water, oxygen, and nutrients to penetrate the roots.
Overseeding and Top-Dressing
If your lawn has bare patches, overseed those areas by sprinkling grass seed over the top, then lightly rake it in. Top-dress the lawn with a mix of compost and sand to improve soil structure and drainage.
Mowing
You may still need to mow your lawn in early October, but keep the blades on a higher setting than in summer. This will protect the grass from winter frost damage.
5. Patio and Pot Plants: Protecting from Frost
Move tender plants indoors or into a greenhouse before the first frost. Mediterranean plants like olive trees, citrus, and agapanthus need shelter from freezing temperatures.
For outdoor pots:
- Wrap them in bubble wrap or fleece to protect the pots from cracking and the roots from freezing.
- Raise pots off the ground using pot feet or bricks to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging, which can damage roots.
Reduce watering as plants need less water in colder weather, but don’t let the soil completely dry out.
6. Greenhouse and Cold Frame Maintenance
Clean the Greenhouse
Before bringing plants indoors for winter, give your greenhouse a deep clean:
- Wash the glass to maximise sunlight.
- Sweep out any debris and disinfect surfaces to prevent pests and diseases from overwintering.
- Insulate the greenhouse using bubble wrap or horticultural fleece to maintain higher temperatures and protect plants from cold nights.
Ventilation
Even in colder weather, ventilation is essential to prevent condensation, which can lead to fungal diseases. Open vents on milder days to let in fresh air.
7. Pruning and Cutting Back
October is the time for a final round of pruning:
- Roses: Cut back long stems to prevent wind damage and prune to maintain shape. Remove any dead or diseased wood.
- Deciduous trees and shrubs: Prune to maintain structure and remove dead branches, but avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs like forsythia and magnolia, as this will remove next year’s flower buds.
8. Start a Compost Heap
If you don’t already have one, October is the perfect time to start a compost heap:
- Add garden waste like dead plants, vegetable scraps, grass cuttings, and fallen leaves.
- Keep a good mix of green waste (e.g., vegetable scraps, grass clippings) and brown waste (e.g., fallen leaves, cardboard).
By next year, you'll have rich, organic compost ready to feed your garden!
October’s gardening tasks are all about preparation, protection, and tidying up. Completing these jobs now will ensure that your garden is ready to face the winter, and you’ll reap the rewards come spring. So, grab your Wellies and Waxjackets, and get to work!
