October in the Garden

Just When you thought that all was done in the garden for this year - out comes the sun, and there's loads to do again. Even if the sun doesn't shine, there is still much to do!

Lay a new lawn - a great time for doing it, if you didn't do it last month! (Protect seed with fleece until it germinates)
Scarify and aerate existing lawns. Brush sharp sand into the spiked holes.
Last chance for a lawn autumn feed.
Keep mowing - but with blades set higher.
Still time to plant some bulbs - but soon.
Out with the summer bedding plants when finished flowering.
Clear up all fallen leaves and put them on the compost heap
Keep dead-heading roses - they could flower until Christmas!

Planting time for shrubs, conifers, perennials, roses and trees.
Plant out your spring flowering plants. Pansies, wallflowers etc.

Bring in your Dahlia tubers
Carry on with shrub cuttings
A good time for dividing your hardy perennials
It is usually a good time to paint fencing and trellis. The plants can be moved back from the fence more easily now.

Carry on picking fruit as it ripens
Plant out your spring cabbage - but net them against hungry pigeons
Plant out autumn onion sets and garlic
Dig up your remaining potatoes - not much use after they are hit by frost!
Grease bands on the fruit trees
As soon as leaves have fallen, treat peaches and nectarines with copper fungicide to help control leaf curl.
Spray cherries with copper as well - it helps prevent bacterial canker.
Start digging in some organic manure into the veg. plot
All of the Asparagus 'ferns' can now be cut down.
Prune your blackberries - Simply cut out all of the growths that have fruited this year.

Any tender plants need to be bought into the greenhouse now!
Remove all traces of shading from greenhouse glass - wash down if dirty
Line your greenhouse with bubble polythene - if you need to conserve heat for the winter.
Make sure that heaters are working - before you need them!
Reduce watering now, and only water in the mornings.
Still keep an eye out for hot days, when your ventilators may need opening.