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Our jobs for October to keep you busy in the garden this month!
What to Plant:
- Allium bulbs
- Tulip bulbs
- Lily bulbs
- Other spring-flowering bulbs
- Perennials
- Rhubarb
- Blueberry plants
- Cabbages
- Ornamental trees & shrubs
- Evergreens
What to order:
- Spring-flowering bulbs
- Amaryllis
- Indoor Narcissi
- Prepared Hyacinths
- Clematis
- Strawberries
- Raspberry & blackberry canes
Loose rooted plants
October is an ideal time for moving and planting trees, shrubs, climbers and hedging plants after they have defoliated. Therefore many of the plants we sell through the autumn are not lifted at our nurseries until they are dormant, and it is safe to send them to you. We only receive some of these plants in mid to late October and it is then our job to deliver these healthy dormant plants to you as soon as possible.
Keep a tidy autumn garden
As the leaves begin to fall one of the main jobs is to keep the garden tidy. For example, dead leaves make great compost, so throw them on the compost heap. Now is an ideal time to divide clump-forming perennials, dig up the whole clump and carefully split into smaller sections for replanting around the garden or share out between friends and family.
Think about your fruit and veg!
Now is a great time to start planning your fruit garden for mouth-watering crops for many years to come. Fruit trees and plants should be ordered for planting in late October and November when loose rooted trees and shrubs have defoliated and entered a dormant state. Plan your fruit garden carefully and prepare the ground for the requirements of your trees and plants.
Lift tender plants
The odd frost may not be too far away, so it is important to lift frost tender bulbs and tubers over the next few weeks. Lift the bulbs and tubers and keep over winter in a dry, frost-free environment. This is a great way of maximising your investment as all these varieties can be planted again next spring for another fantastic summer display!
Get Planting
Early Autumn is the time to start planning for spring colour and planting your bulbs - this continues throughout October. Think about plants that might add a bit of colour to your garden this autumn and winter, with many winter-flowering shrubs offering bursts of colour in an otherwise bare season. You can also begin to plant Lily bulbs in pots this month and the next, for an unrivalled display of stunning colours and shapes.
Prepare for indoor bulbs
The coming months are the time to start preparing to plant your indoor bulbs. Or, if you haven't already, buy your Amaryllis, indoor Narcissi or prepared Hyacinth now for a great winter display. Pot up specially treated, prepared Hyacinth bulbs now and they could flower as early as Christmas!
Tips:
- Trim down any deciduous hedges to ensure your garden still looks neat and tidy over the winter months.
- Shrubs can be pruned or cut back to neaten them up and prevent wind damage.
- October is also the time to lift and harvest many root vegetables such as Carrots, Onions and late varieties of Potato.
- As the leaves fall, rake them off your lawn and add them to the compost heap.