October tasks

The art of storing apples

Autumn brings with it a glorious abundance of apples, and after the satisfaction of harvesting, the next natural step is to ensure that this delicious bounty lasts as long as possible. It truly is worth taking the trouble to store…

Leave the seed heads for wildlife

As we slip into October, the way we look at our gardens changes. It’s no longer about maintenance; it’s all about getting ready for winter. I know the feeling – the urge to grab the shears for one final autumn…

Plant out Sugar Rush wallflowers

October is the perfect time to plant biennial wallflowers (Erysimum). The ‘Sugar Rush’ variety offers longer-lasting colour than traditional wallflowers. Instead of waiting until spring, these cultivars bloom soon after planting. Their blooms last through autumn, winter, and the following…

The final cuts of the season

When autumn arrives, it might seem like you can put the mower away. But October is actually an important time for lawn care. Continue mowing as long as the grass is growing. Even though growth slows, the grass still gets…

Squeezing the last blooms from your garden

As October arrives, gardeners often balance enjoying late-season blooms with preparing for winter. Deadheading, particularly for equatorial plants like dahlias, helps extend the season. As days get shorter and nights become cooler, plants start to slow down. However, if you…

Get ahead on digging

October usually signals the end of the gardening season, but it can be a great time to get a head start if you want to refresh your garden. Whether you plan to replant this winter or get ready for spring,…

Time to plant hellebores to brighten those dull winter days

October is a great time to plant hellebores. These plants have delicate flowers and evergreen leaves, making them a lovely choice for garden borders. They add colour and life when most other plants are dormant. Planting hellebores now gives them…

Make you own leaf mould

Autumn gives us a fantastic gift often overlooked by gardeners: fallen leaves. Instead of raking them onto the compost pile or, worse, bagging them for disposal, gather as many as you can find. These are the raw ingredients for leaf…

Provide drinking water for wildlife

Providing fresh water in your garden is one of the simplest and most important tasks you can do as autumn arrives. While summer’s heat may fade, dry spells are still possible, and natural water sources, such as puddles, often become…

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