Jobs for October

October is the time to plant spring bulbs, spring flower pots, clear Autumn leaves and to ready the garden for winter.

Jobs for October

• Plant up spring pots

• Clear leaves

• Bring tender plants under protection

• Turn the compost heap

• Getting ready for Spring

• Jobs in the Vegetable Garden

Clear leaves 

• The simplest method of clearing leaves off the lawn is to run over them with a lawn mower. The cutting action of the mower blades will help to shred the leaves and make them quicker to rot down.

• Collect leaves this way once a week - any longer and the grass will start to grow long and get harder to cut. 

• For clearing patios, paths and other surfaces, a leaf blower is a better bet. Either blow the leaves onto the lawn for the mower to pick up or blast them on to a tarpaulin and drag them to the compost heap.

Turn the compost heap  

• As the garden is tidied in preparation for winter, lots of material is generated for composting. To encourage it to rot down quickly, turn the contents regularly to stir it up and allow in lots of air.

• In the colder weather, the rate of decomposition will naturally decrease, but it will soon speed up during warmer spells.

Jobs in the Vegetable Garden

• Peas and beans that have gone over can be cut down to ground level, and their roots left in the soil to be dug over – they then break down and return vital nitrogen to the earth.

• Sow broad beans this month for good early pickings in May and June next year.

• Plant shallots, onion sets and garlic now for the best sized bulbs next year.

• Cut back Jerusalem artichokes and asparagus to ground level carefully weed the bed and cover with a layer of mulch also mulch with grit over the top and scatter a handful of granular dishwasher salt, which acts as a weedkiller.

• Cover any productive salad plants with cloches to protect from the frosts.

• Earth up leeks to cover and blanch their stems.

• Make sure Brussels sprouts are firm in the ground as wind-rock breaks the tiny hairs on the roots that take in the nutrients.

• Net your brassicas as they will be under attack as other food becomes scarce.

• Remove yellowing leaves from Brussels Sprouts plants and other brassicas to prevent the spread of disease and dispose of them.

Plant up spring pots 

• If you haven't already planted some containers with spring colour, there's still time to plant now using bedding plants such as violas and wallflowers, plus spring-flowering bulbs. 

• Keep your pots in a sheltered spot, such as under a porch, to encourage blooms through the winter and to avoid plants rotting off in the winter wet. Cyclamen and ornamental cabbage are particularly vulnerable to rotting in damp conditions.

• You won't get masses of blooms during colder weather, but any milder spells should see a good show.

Bring tender plants under protection 

• If you've got tender plants, such as canna, now's the time to bring them indoors before they get killed by the frost.

• Choose a light, frost-free place such as a greenhouse or coldframe. Then keep them on the dry side during the winter, so they don't put on much growth.

• The plants can then be brought back into growth in spring by gradually increasing the amount of water they receive

Getting Ready for Spring

Spring might seem like a long way off, but September is the perfect month to start making preparations for a beautiful floral display.

• Plant spring bedding, such as pansies, wallflowers and sweet Williams. There should be a good selection of plants at the garden centre. Water them well before planting and give them a good soak whenever the weather is dry to help them establish quickly.

• Buy spring-flowering bulbs. Choose firm, plump bulbs and avoid any with signs of mould. Plant them as soon as possible so they can start putting down roots. The cool, moist conditions of late autumn suit tulips best so wait until then before planting them.