5 YEAR GUARANTEE October is a month of promise and planning not a month to feel that year has ended, the year has in fact just begun! Many calendars begin their year now, for it is the effort put into preparing soils, planting bulbs and saving seeds that bring the promise of the future into reality.
- Continue planting pots of autumn/winter bedding with bulbs for winter through to early spring displays. Plant drifts of species crocus through lawns to give queen bumble bees a highly valuable feed when they emerge from hibernation. Continue planting perennials, trees and evergreen shrubs until first frosts appear. Remember berrying plants like Mahonia, Cotoneaster, and Pyracantha are hugely important to wildlife and give heaps of pleasure over the drab winter months. Whilst plants such as Skimmia and Pieris give long term interest and bountiful supplies of nectar to foraging bees in spring.
- Clear glass houses out of any finished summer crops and clean down thoroughly for winter using diluted disinfectant. Bubble wrap may be attached to the frame work now to allow you to continue harvesting crops such as lettuce and mizuna. The added frost protection will also serve well for over wintering many plants such as pelargoniums so long as temperatures do not get too low and watering is kept at a minimum. Now is a great time to invest in a greenhouse heater so that you are ready for the onslaught of winter.
- In warmer areas a late cut of lawns may still be required but cease once frosts are likely. Leaves should be swept up off of lawns on a regular basis to prevent bald patches appearing. The leaves may be composted to make leaf mould in a compost bin.
- Pest and Disease control for October: Grey mould or botrytis can be a major problem in late autumn crops and overwintering plants so check at least once a week and remove any signs immediately with a clean knife or secateurs. Mildew can be a problem on pansies and violas, showing as whitish grey patches on the leaves, pick off worst affected areas and spray with fungicide.
- Fruit trees such as apple should now have a grease band around the trunk. If you have not attached one already apply as soon as possible to prevent female winter moths from climbing up and infesting your tree next spring.
- Cut autumn-fruiting raspberries down to the ground after harvesting.
- Apply an autumn lawn feed to revive the grass after the rigours of summer
- Large shrubs, for example Lavatera, which may not have been pruned as yet and are susceptible to root damage due to wind rock should be cut back now. Check tree stakes are firm and that ties allow room for plants to move in the wind without rubbing. A bone meal feed will help the development of strong roots and can still be applied whilst the soil is warm.
- Wrap layers of fleece or straw around banana plants and tree ferns to protect from frost.
- Sow broad beans to give an early crop next year and sweet peas for earlier flowering. Remember mice are very fond of these young shoots so keep a close eye on things and protect them well. Check brassicas such as purple sprouting broccoli and Brussel sprouts are firmed in well and plant out any remaining leeks, brassicas, onion or shallot sets. Start to plant early garlic cloves to ensure they receive a frosting over winter. Garlic that does not receive this frosting often does not form individual cloves but one large bulb by harvest next year.
- Give the garden a general tidy removing any old decaying perennial tops, except those such as sedum that can give interest in winter when dew and frost form on them. This is all good material for the compost heap or left in a corner undisturbed it may encourage a hedgehog to take up residence.
- Remove any pot saucers and raise pots up onto feet to prevent waterlogging over winter.
- Storage of top fruit such as apples and pears can be done in a cool shed out of direct sunlight. Lay newspaper into crates or trays before laying the fruit down. Make sure the fruit is clean and dry and there is good air circulation through the building. Check and remove any fruit showing signs of damage, disease or brown rot immediately.