Online Gardening Calendar

October

Between general tidying chores and making the garden secure for the winter, October can be a busy month outdoors. Rather than simply leaving cuttings and prunings on the compost heap, why not buy or hire a shredder? It will reduce a large amount of garden refuse into a more manageable pile of clippings, which in turn, break down much more easily.
This is a good time to visit North Wales Garden World when it is a little quieter but bargains abound.

Fruit

Ensure that new blackberry and raspberry canes are securely tied in to keep them safe in the winter.

Trees and Shrubs

Root hardwood cuttings of deciduous shrubs in silt trenches in the garden. Move or replace deciduous plants or evergreens, and prune hedges.

Vegetables

Finish harvesting tender crops before frost threatens, and protect salad crops still in the ground with fleece or cloches. Plant out garlic, cabbage and strawberry plants.

Flowers

Try saving your half hardy bedding plants such as fuchsias and geraniums until next year. Remove dead foliage and flower heads and cut the stems back by two thirds. Leave in a cool, sheltered spot, safe from frost and water in moderation until spring.

Lawns

If you wish to plant grass seed on your damaged lawn, start by raking the area thoroughly until the surface and soil underneath is flaky. Scatter the seed, then rake again until most of the seed is concealed in the ground. Water and leave until the grass grows to around 5cm.

Pots

Find suitable places for your houseplants to live during the winter months, away from dark, chilly corners, and take care not to over water.

Ponds

For those who have a small, established pond, autumn is the time to dredge out some of the sludge gathering at the bottom. Do not worry about siphoning off the water first – simply dip a plastic flowerpot in and bale out a few bucketfuls. The contents, a rich mix of algae and plant remains can be put on the compost heap. Change over fish food to wheatgerm for winter feeding.