Gardening Tips for October

There is still plenty to enjoy: late flowers, autumn colour and the outline of arches and obelisks becoming visible as summer growth retreats. A little attention now will help your garden through the colder months and give next spring a promising start.

Follow what you know about your own local conditions rather than rely on the calendar alone - exposed and northern gardens may experience frost earlier, while if you enjoy a sheltered garden it may stay mild well into autumn.

Your October gardening checklist at a glance

• Protect tender plants before the first frost.
• Plant remaining spring bulbs and order tulips for November.
• Sow sweet peas for next year.
• Plant hardy shrubs, trees and climbers when soil conditions allow.
• Divide overcrowded, autumn-suitable perennials.
• Keep useful seedheads and standing stems in borders.
• Collect leaves from lawns and paths.
• Harvest autumn crops and plant garlic.
• Check climbing plant ties, garden structures and crop protection.
• Improve container drainage and prepare tools for winter.

Protect tender plants before frost

Move frost-sensitive plants into suitable shelter before freezing temperatures arrive. Pelargoniums, tender herbs and citrus may need a bright, frost-free greenhouse, conservatory or other suitable indoor space.

Check each plant’s requirements. An unheated cold frame or greenhouse offers shelter, but will not necessarily remain frost-free.

Keep horticultural fleece ready for vulnerable outdoor plants. In pots, check drainage and raise containers on pot feet where appropriate so water can escape. Winter wet can be as troublesome as cold.

For dahlias, wait until frost blackens the foliage before lifting tubers for storage. In mild gardens with well-drained soil, they may be left in the ground beneath a protective mulch.

Plant bulbs for spring colour

Plant any remaining daffodils and other suitable spring-flowering bulbs promptly, and plan to plant tulips in November. Check the recommended depth and spacing for each variety.

Choose combinations that flower in succession, rather than all at once. Small groups beside a path, beneath deciduous trees or around a garden entrance bring spring colour where you will notice it most.

For containers, use pots with drainage holes and a suitable free-draining, peat-free compost. A planter near the doorway is an easy way to enjoy the first flowers without venturing far into the garden.

Sow sweet peas under cover

October is a good time to sow sweet peas if you have somewhere cool and sheltered to overwinter the seedlings. Sow into deep pots or rootrainers using peat-free compost.

After germination, keep seedlings in a bright cold frame or unheated greenhouse. Ventilate during mild weather and protect them during severe frost. Too much warmth can encourage weak, elongated growth.

If overwintering space is limited, sow in late winter or spring instead.

Now is also a lovely time to plan next year’s display: fragrant sweet peas climbing an obelisk, or a flowering entrance trained over a garden arch.

Plant hardy shrubs, trees & climbers

Autumn planting gives many hardy plants time to establish while the soil retains warmth and moisture - plant when the ground is workable and avoid frozen or waterlogged soil.

Water new plants thoroughly and continue checking them during dry spells. Autumn rain doesn’t always reach the rootball, particularly beside walls and trees.

Prepare supports before planting climbers. Position an arch, trellis or obelisk first so you can plant without disturbing new roots later.

Bare-root trees, roses and hedging generally become available as the dormant season begins. October is a useful time to choose varieties and prepare their planting positions.

Divide suitable perennials and tidy selectively

Divide overcrowded perennials but leave healthy standing stems and seedheads where possible -they provide lovely winter interest and shelter for wildlife.

Lift suitable clumps, separate them into healthy sections and replant as soon as you can - some are better divided in spring so check what is best for your individual plant.

Remove collapsed or softened growth where necessary - leave less hardy plants, such as penstemons, with their protective top growth until spring.

The aim is a garden ready for winter but to leave enough life and texture for you and the wildlife to enjoy.

Collect fallen leaves and care for the lawn

Clear leaves from lawns and regularly used paths, while allowing healthy leaves to remain on borders where appropriate. A thick covering can smother grass, and wet leaves can make paths slippery.

Gather leaves separately to make leaf mould. Keep them damp and allow time for them to break down; this is a gradual process rather than a quick supply of compost.

Continue mowing if grass is growing and conditions are suitable, using a slightly higher cutting height. Avoid mowing or working on saturated or frosty ground.

Harvest crops and prepare the kitchen garden

Harvest apples and pears as they ripen, check stored fruit regularly and remove anything beginning to rot.

October jobs in the vegetable garden include:

• Planting garlic and finishing autumn onion-set planting.
• Planting out spring cabbages.
• Sowing overwintering broad beans in mild areas.
• Clearing finished crops and covering empty beds with well-rotted compost.

Protect vulnerable crops from pigeons with suitable netting, secured tautly to prevent wildlife becoming entangled. Check it regularly throughout winter.

Check roses, climbing plants and their supports

Tie in loose climbing stems before autumn winds, and identify your rose type before pruning. Check that ties support stems without cutting into them.

Climbing roses can be pruned in autumn or winter. Most bush roses receive their main pruning in late winter or early spring. Rambling roses usually have routine pruning after flowering in late summer; renovation is a separate winter task.

Check arches, trellis and other supports for loose fixings or movement, following the manufacturer’s guidance. A few adjustments now can help prevent damage during windy weather.

Prepare tools and water storage for winter

Clean tools, clear greenhouse gutters and check winter shelter before you need it. Repair damaged glazing and make sure doors and vents work properly.

Remove mud from hand tools, dry them and maintain them according to their instructions. Drain and store hoses before freezing weather, and clear debris from water butts so they are ready to collect autumn rainfall.

Store garden furniture where practical, or follow the care guidance for its material and finish.

Your October gardening questions answered

What should I prioritise in the garden in October?

Start with weather-sensitive jobs: protect tender plants before frost, secure loose climbing stems and improve container drainage. Then tackle planting, harvesting and leaf collection as conditions allow.

Is October too late to plant bulbs?

No. Plant remaining suitable spring bulbs promptly, following the instructions for each variety. Tulips are generally planted in November.

Should I cut everything back in October?

No. Keep healthy seedheads, grasses and standing stems for winter interest and wildlife. Remove collapsed growth as needed, and check individual plants before pruning.

Can I plant a climbing rose in October?

A container-grown climbing rose can be planted in October if the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged. Install its support first and water thoroughly after planting. Bare-root roses are planted during the dormant season.

What if I only have an hour?

Protect frost-sensitive plants, check loose ties and clear leaves from the main path. These small jobs make a useful start; planting and border work can follow when conditions suit.

Enjoy these last autumn days in the garden, and don’t feel you have to do everything at once. A few small jobs now will give you a head start for spring - and there’s always time to plan a favourite rose climbing an arch or a few more planters by the back door.