Jobs to do in your garden in october

annie123 · 27 September 2008 at 5:55PM

General garden care:
Can't believe its October already, where has the year gone?
Well this month is: Wind proof your garden month,
Check fences/walls etc and repair if needed, did you do the shed roof check from last month, if not do it now.
Don’t forget old tights make great ties, check plants/trees that might need anchorage in high winds, as they will be with us soon
Are there toys that need to be put away? Garden furniture does it need covering? Put away tools, seed trays etc.
You will also notice that squirrels start digging holes in your pots/borders/lawn putting nuts in places they will forget later when they are hungry.
I don’t mind it personally as long as they are hiding their own nuts and not looking for my bulbs, no idea how to stop it. Please post if you do have any ideas.

FLOWER GARDEN

Plant spring bulbs:, daffs, crocuses (look great en mass under trees by log piles etc), hyacinths, fritillaries, irises etc now tulips can be planted in October but many recommend waiting till November. Try to plant weekly over the month to stager displays next year
Plant/move shrubs: ideal time to move any in the wrong spots, soak a few days before, cut back and get as much of a root ball as poss.
Plant new trees from now until March.
Plant a new hedge
Mulch shrubs
Prune rambling roses: prune back old stems and tie in new ones
Lift and store: dahlias; as soon as frost hits store tuber upside down. Gladioli; pick off baby corms keep separate over winter and plant next spring in nursery bed.
Sow: sweet peas in pots keep sheltered or under glass will flower earlier next year.
Sow hardy annuals now they will get a head start next year
Begonias/geraniums: Can over winter in a cool frost free place a garage or shed is fine.
Hanging baskets: will be looking tatty now a little care will keep them going a bit longer or compost any bedding plants in there and add winter pansies, spring bulbs, winter heathers, ivy cuttings etc
Bring in any tender plants if frost is due in your area.
Plant out biennials where they are to flower next year
Lawns: last mow if not already done, grass seed can still be sown in the south. Rake fallen leaves, if you have a large amount leave in a pile to rot down as leaf mulch if only a small amount add to compost bin, which will probably be overflowing this month and in need of turning over.
Scarify your lawn it will look tatty but will look great next spring, dig a folk into water logged areas. If you like you can add a top dressing.
Take 10-12in hardwood cuttings, of buddleias, forsythia, willow, flowering currant, gooseberries, and all currents
Have a good clear up all round the garden and star making plans for any changes needed next year.

KITCHEN GARDEN

Crops to sow: peas, rocket, winter lettuce
Plant out spring cabbages broad beans garlic and onions rhubarb
Pot up: herbs for indoor window sills for use in winter, cuttings can also be taken
Get the last of your tomatoes in now. Green ones ripen on window sills or make into chutney
Marrows pumpkins and squashes: once the skin has hardened cut off the plant cook and eat
Raspberries/blackberries: cut to ground level this year fruiting canes next years fruit come from new shoots
Rhubarb: lift and divide
Prepare new asparagus beds now dig in plenty of organic matter and grit if needed
Dig over any vacant areas adding compost/grit/etc as appropriate for your soil type. If in the south plant a green manure if more northerly cover to keep weeds out
Watch for disease and fungus this month, DO NOT COMPOST ANYTHING THAT YOU ARE NOT SURE IS DISEASE FREE OR BINDWEED FREE.
Keep on harvesting….too many to list

GREENHOUSE

Clean windows:and insulate with bubble wrap…often free from the fruit and veg section of supermarkets, just ask
Check your heater if you use one
Check gutters not blocked with leaves at the end of the month.
Remove any shading
Have a good clear out to make space for tender plants coming in.

PONDS AND WILDLIFE

Put netting over the pond to stop leaves falling in
Cur back foliage on pond plants divide if growing out of container
Put a plastic ball in the water now to stop it freezing over and killing fish and other things in it
Leave ivy uncut if possible
Clean bird baths and top up
Keep feeders topped up from now on
Try to have a selection of foods available for a wide range of birds
Make a leaf pile for passing wildlife to over winter in
Make a log or twig pile with your prunings for wildlife
Use hallow stems to make a bee house just grab a bundle tie up and hid in nooks and crannies

link to the previous months for the year so far
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=9001607#post9001607

Do read ackonite_babe's 'useful links' sticky, loads and loads of useful sites and info
Still not well I'm afraid so sorry if I have missed anything please feel free to add ideas and lets us know what you're up to.

happy gardening everyone:D

helping_hubby · 27 September 2008 at 7:27PM

Are there plants I can buy now for my borders? My mum has given me crocus and daffodil bulbs which I will plant. Can I plant other flowers at the same time as the bulbs? My current flowers, I forget what they are, seem to be dying off now.

shop-to-drop · 27 September 2008 at 7:30PM

Thanks so much for this thread. Will subscribe and read with interest. Just trying this year to gain confidence in the garden.

xxx

tessie_bear · 27 September 2008 at 7:36PM

this is very helpful....so far all weve done is paint the fence.....it looks nice though

annie123 · 27 September 2008 at 8:16PM

helping_hubby wrote: »

Are there plants I can buy now for my borders? My mum has given me crocus and daffodil bulbs which I will plant. Can I plant other flowers at the same time as the bulbs? My current flowers, I forget what they are, seem to be dying off now.

Yes you can plant at the same time. Dogwoods look nice when everything else is bare in the winter.
I would have a look at a local garden centre to see whats available at the moment, then look in friends, family's gardens and see if anyone is planing to get rid of any or ask for cuttings.
You then have free plants

If not then look online often cheaper if you are buying a lot.
Not a hugh choice of bedding flowers at the moment pansey and voilets will be the main ones.

ideas here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/design/plant_recipes/designing_for_colour.shtml

http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/pots-containers/category/autumn-winter/

Let me know how you get on or if you have any other questions.

annie123 · 27 September 2008 at 8:18PM

tessie_bear wrote: »

this is very helpful....so far all weve done is paint the fence.....it looks nice though

I only got one side of mine done earlier this month :rolleyes: will be doing the right hand fence this month after I have finished pruning and the spiders have left home.

Lotus-eater · 27 September 2008 at 9:38PM

Composting bindweed and other associated weeds.

You can do it of course, you just have to do it the right way.

You can bag the whole lot up in bin bags and wait for them to dissolve, then add them.
You can dry them out on a path and then add them to the heap.
You can kill them under water and then add them, messy but do able.
My preferred method is to put them on a woody compost heap and add them to the top of it. Wind and sun will soon dry them out, you can then add them to the main heap, or just leave them where they are.

helping_hubby · 27 September 2008 at 10:24PM

annie123 wrote: »

Yes you can plant at the same time. Dogwoods look nice when everything else is bare in the winter.
I would have a look at a local garden centre to see whats available at the moment, then look in friends, family's gardens and see if anyone is planing to get rid of any or ask for cuttings.
You then have free plants

If not then look online often cheaper if you are buying a lot.
Not a hugh choice of bedding flowers at the moment pansey and voilets will be the main ones.

ideas here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/design/plant_recipes/designing_for_colour.shtml

http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/pots-containers/category/autumn-winter/

Let me know how you get on or if you have any other questions.

Thanks Annie. I will look at those websites. I'm quite new to gardening in terms of plants and flowers as we just moved house 3 months ago. Before when I was renting I did not want to waste money on flowers incase we had to move.

Dustykitten · 27 September 2008 at 10:35PM

I dug up and divided my irises today - it may have been a bit late but it is a sunny spot and they needed doing - I've never done this before.

It is too late to give the lawn an autumn feed?

annie123 · 27 September 2008 at 10:48PM

Dustykitten wrote: »

I dug up and divided my irises today - it may have been a bit late but it is a sunny spot and they needed doing - I've never done this before.

It is too late to give the lawn an autumn feed?

no not too late, rake it first to remove the thatch then feed it.
and I'm sire your irises will be fine, lovely day today wasn't it.

janet6267 · 28 September 2008 at 7:27AM

Great thread, thanks .

Jobs to do in your garden in october

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