October Gardening Tips and Snips

Keeping Summer Bedding Plants
During October you may be able to pot up into larger pots some of those cuttings of half-hardy bedding plants you took during august. If you planted your cuttings into trays now is the time to select the best and pot them into individual pots, throw away any that are not doing as well. It may seem wasteful but these weaker plants are likely to underperform next year. Use good quality compost in clean plant pots usually 9cm pots should be fine for these. Don’t forget to cover with fleece for protection in the cold weather.
Larger half-hardy plants such as Fuchsia, Geraniums and Osteospermums should be lifted, potted up and placed into the greenhouse for winter where with a little protection may make it through the winter. Plants should be trimmed back and any flowers and soft growth removed and cuttings can be taken.

Treat Poorly Trees and Shrubs
October is an ideal time to spray deciduous trees and shrubs with a winter wash if they have had pest and disease problems during the year. This is especially useful if you are growing fruit trees such as apples and pears. Clear up any fallen leaves that may harbour pests and diseases and if your trees have had problem during the year it is best to put the diseased leaves on the bonfire.
Most pests will have become dormant now for winter but check your plants over for any signs of over wintering bugs or where eggs may be lurking and treat them now before they become a problem.

Plan for Next Year
After the rush of the season has finished but everything is still fresh in your mind it is an ideal time to be thinking ahead and planning the garden for next year. Think about which plants did well, which ought to be moved and which plants simply need getting rid of. You can still plant new plants now which will establish roots over the winter and grow quickly in spring time.

Check Your Autumn Bedding
Have a look at the plants you planted last month or in august if you are organised and see if there are any gaps or plants that have died off. Gaps in bedding displays can be quickly filled with winter flowering pansies chrysanthemums or hardy cyclamen.

Bulbs
November is the best time to plant Tulip bulbs but make sure you order yours now for the best selection as they often sell out quickly. Tulips look great planted in groups and under bedding plants and even under deciduous shrubs where they will flower before the shrubs grow new leaves. Tulips are very versatile and come in such a range of colours and forms, short stemmed varieties are great for planting in hanging baskets or in patio pots.

In the Glasshouse
October is a great time to clean out the greenhouse ready for winter, remove and shading you put up during the summer and sterilise the glass, frame and shelving with cleaners such as Jeyes fluid. Using insulation such as bubble insulation and frost protection fleece can help to reduce the cost of heating and protect plants in unheated glass houses by a couple of degrees. There are plenty of greenhouse heaters available on the market powered by fuels such as paraffin, gas or electricity each has its merits but don’t forget to check they are working as a one night without heat can be all it takes to lose your plants!

Wild Birds
Wild birds need extra help during the cold weather and giving them a reason to stay in your garden is a good thing as they will eat many of the pests lurking in your garden. There are lots of different types of wild bird food and bird feeders available which will help to attract different types of birds depending on the habits of each bird. Wild birds are also interesting to watch out in your garden during a cold winter’s day.

Indoor Plants
October is the best time for beautiful houseplants such as cyclamen and azaleas which prefer cool rooms in good but not direct light. Both of these beautiful houseplants prefer a moist soil but will not tolerate being over watered, using a flowering houseplant fertiliser every fortnight for the best and longest blooms.

Look Out for Jack Frost
Have a good look round your garden this year and think back to the plants that suffered the most last winter from the cold. If you can move those plants into the greenhouse now would be a good time if they are too large to move or plants which are in the ground like Cordylines and palms can be wrapped in frost fleece and then wrapped in bubble insulation for protection. Use a thick layer of garden compost or shredded bark around the plant to protect the roots.

Make More Perennials
Old and large clumps of perennial plants will have finished for the year now and can be cut back if they haven’t done so well maybe they are ready for dividing and splitting. To divide simply take two forks and prize the clump apart. If the clump has fleshy roots a sharp knife or secateurs can be used to cut through the clump. Replant the best pieces of the plant once some fertiliser has been added along with some good garden compost.

Plants of the month
There are still plenty of plants showing the best they have to offer in October including late flowering perennials such as Japanese anemones, some heathers Aster novi belgii and Schizostylis. Remember to plant out your bedding plants if you haven’t gotten round to it yet, bedding showing colour includes Chrysanthemums, winter flowering pansies and cyclamen. Many trees show colour during October such as those with berries like Rowan or Mountain ash and those that have great stem and bark colour such as Betula Jacquemontii and Prunus serrula.

Related posts:

1. September Gardening Tips and Snips
2. April Gardening Tips and Snips
3. June Gardening Tips and Snips
4. August Gardening Tips and Snips
5. February Gardening Tips and Snips