With the colder months closing in, it can be tempting to close the garden off and lock yourself indoors, ready for months of hibernation. However, doing a few gardening jobs now will pay off in the long run.
October specifically can be a really crucial stage for gardening. Putting it the time now will allow your garden to really flourish in spring, allowing your garden to thrive over the next few months, even without your input.
“Your October garden chores list doesn’t have to be exhaustive, but a little care goes a long way! October is a month of preparation and preservation in the gardening world,” says James Ewens, a gardening expert at Green Feathers.
“By planting, pruning and feeding intentionally, you’ll pave the way for a fruitful spring. October is critical for protecting your wildlife, our garden’s animal friends need help stocking up on food and shelter.”
What to do in the garden in October
Plant any spring bulbs
If you’ve been extra prepared, all of your spring bulbs will already be comfortably in the ground. If not, then don’t worry! There is still time. Tulips, daffodils and crocuses all need a chance to settle in and establish roots before the winter gets too cold.
Right now, the soil will still be workable and your bulbs can nestle in nicely. Staggering your bulbs varieties allows colour to pop in your garden throughout spring. Pollinators will also benefit as they emerge from hibernation into spring.
Tidy up your borders
October is a great time to focus on any borders that might be starting to overgrow. Lots of herbaceous perennials die back in October, and leaving them in disarray not only looks untidy, but also becomes a key invite to pests and diseases who are big fans of some decaying foliage.
Don’t take this as an excuse to simply chop everything back, some plants and shrubs are welcome to stay! Some hardy perennials can survive through the winter months. It’s a good idea to avoid bird-loving perennials as they need some cover during the colder months.
Prepare for the frost
Depending on where you live, frost can kick in pretty early in October. Plants in containers are going to be especially vulnerable to this so moving them closer to the house, sheltering them or insulating them is an important step.
For plants in pots, you can create a mini microclimate by moving them to a south-facing or west-facing spot, or near a hedge or wall – so they can huddle together for warmth.
Flowerbed plants are a different matter. You’ll need to cover these, either with fleece or hessian to keep them breathable and ensuring there is airflow. Adding a layer of mulch to flowerbeds also helps to insulate the soil.
Take care of the wildlife
The Winter can be a tough time for wildlife. October is a crucial period for helping create a safe haven for them. Providing water, food and shelter can help keep them safe in those tougher cold months.
This can be as small as leaving the seedheads on your sunflowers, plantig native trees and shrubs and supplementing your garden with bird-loving food like high-energy bird cakes, or fat balls.
Get your final grass trim in
A less important job, but oe that is worth getting in none-the-less. As temperatures drop and daylight hours shorten, grass is going to stop growing significantly. That means October is often the final time for your lawn cut for the year.
Once temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius, grass will simply stop growing. If you leave your lawn cut too late in these extra cold conditions, you risk a messy lawn and weakened grass.
