Gardening by Month - October
October is a treat for lovers of autumnal plants. Garsons is filled with outstanding seasonal choices including plants with red leaves to those covered in berries.
If you dodge the rain, it's an ideal time for planting. This is due to damp autumn conditions combined with soil that’s warm enough to encourage the roots of newly planted shrubs, hedging and other hardy plants.
Winter-flowering daphne is much loved in the shrub world, bringing fragrance to your garden over the colder months. Daphne flowers fill the air with sweet scent when little else is in flower and the leaves are often evergreen, making it a winter winner.
The daphne likes well-drained soil in a sheltered spot. Position it in the front of your border, close to a path where you can appreciate the scent when it’s flowering. Check the eventual size before buying, as some varieties grow huge, others have a compact bushy habit that are ideal for growing in a container, which you can keep on the patio or beside the front door.
It’s good to get out in the fresh air and tidy the garden. Most flowering plants can be cut back. Get rid of weeds and dead leaves, then add a thick layer of mulch to give plants a little more protection over the winter. Cut back hedges, and if you have a pond, remove dead leaves through the season.
If you haven’t done so already, feed your lawn with an autumn treatment to sort out any moss and provide nutrients to harden off growth. The soil under your lawn might be compacted after the baking hot summer. Aerate it with a garden fork, allowing air to the roots, which can reduce moss growth. In doing so, your lawn is prepared for whatever winter throws at it.
Be ready to protect tender plants from frosts. Get some horticultural fleece from the garden centre to wrap them up on frosty nights.
Enjoy your garden in October. Happy gardening, come rain or shine!
