Gardening Jobs in October

Crikey! It’s October already? Time to brace yourself for cooler days and darker evenings. While summer has bid us farewell, the gardening season isn’t over yet! October is a perfect time to prepare your garden for winter while still getting in a few productive days outdoors. It’s all about tidying up, protecting what you’ve grown, and planting for the next season. So, grab that cosy jumper, make a brew, and let’s get cracking with the top gardening jobs for October!

Indoor Gardening/Houseplants

  • Tidy Up: Remove any yellowing or dead leaves from your indoor plants to keep them looking fresh and healthy.
  • Watering Routine: Reduce watering frequency as the days get cooler and shorter. Most indoor plants go dormant in winter, so they won't need as much water.
  • Pest Control: Give your houseplants a good check for pests, as they might try to move indoors as the weather cools. Catching them early can prevent bigger problems later.
  • Humidity Boost: As central heating starts up, indoor humidity levels drop. Increase humidity around your houseplants by misting them regularly or placing them near water-filled trays.
  • Feeding: Cut back on feeding houseplants; they don’t need as much fertilizer when they’re not actively growing.

Outdoor Gardening

  • Clear Debris: Sweep up fallen leaves, dead plants, and any lingering debris from your beds, paths, and borders. Keeping things tidy now will help prevent pests and diseases from overwintering in your garden.
  • Mulching: Lay down mulch around your perennials, trees, and shrubs to protect their roots from frost. A layer of compost or well-rotted manure will also improve the soil for next season.
  • Weeding: Remove any weeds that might have taken hold in your beds. Get rid of them before they can set seed and become a bigger problem next year.
  • Lawn Care: October is the last chance to mow the lawn before winter sets in. Give it a trim but don’t cut too low, and consider scarifying or aerating the lawn to keep it healthy. Add a lawn feed to strengthen the grass ahead of winter.
  • Plant Spring Bulbs: Now’s the time to plant spring bulbs like daffodils, tulips, and crocuses for a colourful display next year. Make sure to plant them before the first frost hits.

Shrubs and Trees

  • Planting and Transplanting: October is ideal for planting new shrubs and trees as the soil is still warm enough to encourage root growth. It's also a good time to move any plants that are in the wrong spot.
  • Pruning: Tidy up deciduous shrubs and trees by removing dead, diseased, or crossing branches. Prune back rose bushes, but leave major pruning for later in winter. Cut back summer-flowering shrubs after they’ve finished blooming.
  • Fertilizing: Apply a slow-release fertilizer to trees and shrubs to help them store nutrients over winter and encourage strong spring growth.

Vegetable Patch

  • Harvest Time: Gather the last of your crops, such as pumpkins, squash, carrots, and late potatoes. Pull up any plants that are finished producing and add them to the compost pile.
  • Green Manure: Consider planting green manure, such as ryegrass or clover, in your vegetable beds. These cover crops will protect your soil over winter and enrich it for next spring.
  • Garlic and Onion Sets: October is a great time to plant garlic and overwintering onion sets. They'll establish roots now and be ready to grow when the warmer weather returns.
  • Winter Crops: Sow hardy crops like spinach, kale, and broad beans, which can overwinter and give you a head start in early spring.

Lawns

  • Last Mow: Give your lawn one last mow of the year, but raise the height of the mower blades to leave the grass a little longer for winter protection.
  • Aerating and Feeding: If your lawn is compacted, aerate it to improve drainage and reduce waterlogging. Add an autumn-specific lawn feed to strengthen the roots for the colder months.
  • Repair Patches: Repair any bare or damaged patches by overseeding, so your lawn is lush and ready for the spring.

Patio and Containers

  • Protect Pots: Move delicate plants in pots to a sheltered spot or inside a greenhouse. Wrap containers in bubble wrap to protect the roots from freezing temperatures.
  • Winter Colour: Plant winter-flowering bedding plants like pansies, violas, and cyclamen in containers and hanging baskets for a pop of colour through the colder months.
  • Clean Up: Scrub your patio and clean outdoor furniture before covering them for winter storage.

Greenhouse Gardening

  • Cleaning: Give your greenhouse a thorough clean, removing any old plant debris to prevent pests and diseases. Clean the glass to maximize light exposure during the darker months.
  • Ventilation: On sunny days, open up the greenhouse for a few hours to allow air to circulate and prevent damp conditions.
  • Sow Hardy Annuals: Now is a good time to sow hardy annuals like sweet peas and nigella. They’ll establish roots over winter and bloom in early spring.

Fruit Garden

  • Pruning: Prune back fruit bushes like blackcurrants, redcurrants, and gooseberries once they’ve finished fruiting. For raspberries, cut down the canes that fruited this year and tie in new canes for next year’s harvest.
  • Fruit Trees: If you have fruit trees, clear any fallen fruit to prevent diseases. Apply a layer of mulch around the base of trees to protect the roots and retain moisture.

Wildlife Care

  • Bird Feeders: Keep bird feeders topped up to support wildlife through the colder months. Set up bird baths and ensure a fresh water supply.
  • Hedgehog Homes: If you have hedgehogs in your area, consider leaving a corner of your garden wild or creating a hedgehog home for them to hibernate in.

October may bring cooler weather, but it’s a busy month for gardeners. By tackling these essential jobs now, you’ll ensure your garden is prepped and protected for the winter, and ready to spring back to life next year.