Gardening Jobs for October

It’s October and gardeners can take a deep breath — the hardest work of the year has been done, and now we have to consider how best to protect the garden for the arrival of frosts. The autumn leaves also begin to colour up and eventually fall. It's time to dismantle the summer displays and prepare the garden for the winter ahead.

Lift tender perennials

Lift tender perennials such as chocolate cosmos, gazanias and coleus to protect over winter.

Protect plants

Wrap a layer of fleece or straw around tree ferns and banana plants to protect them from frost.

Compost heaps

As the garden is tidied in preparation for winter, lots of material is generated for composting. To encourage it to rot down quickly, turn the contents regularly to stir it up and allow in lots of air. In the colder weather, the rate of decomposition will naturally decrease, but it will soon speed up during warmer spells.

Tidy leaves

October usually marks the start of the leaf-falling season. It’s fine to leave them on borders. However, on paths and hard surfaces, it’s best to gather them straight away as they can be very slippery, especially when the weather is wet. You can clear leaves off the lawn by running over them with a lawn mower.

Spring containers

If you haven't already planted some containers with spring colour, there's still time to plant now using bedding plants such as violas and wallflowers, plus spring-flowering bulbs. Keep your pots in a sheltered spot, such as under a porch, to encourage blooms through the winter and to avoid plants rotting off in the winter wet.