What Jobs To Do In The Garden In October
October already and following a beautiful summer here in the UK there are still lots of growth in the borders and the lawns. You may be asking what jobs to do in the garden in October.
The formal start to autumn is the autumn equinox which is towards the end of September. So we are well into this most stunning, wind-down season.
It will soon be All Hallows’ Eve with pumpkins at the ready for carving fancy lanterns.
If you have been following and reading my recent Autumn blogs then you may well have lots of fantastic colour and your gardens are still going strong.
I hope so, there is nothing better than a garden full of autumnal form and interest.
On a crisp, chilly morning it gladdens the heart to see our gardens doing well, flowers will entice us outdoors.
Gardening is good for you at any point in the year.
So let’s take a look at what jobs to do in the garden in October. Believe me there is plenty to occupy us.
Beds And Borders
Keep on top of tidying the borders, perennials can now be cut back.
Mulch borders with compost, well-rotted manure or bark chippings in order to keep weeds down, retain moisture and it looks nice.
Continue to split any congested perennials. This will help to keep plants healthy and produce new ones for you to fill any gaps with or organise a plant swap with friends.
Try some new autumn plants to give further long-lasting autumn colour in the borders or in containers.
Protect half-hardy plants against frosts with Horticultural fleece.
Planting Trees And Shrubs In Autumn
Autumn is the best time to plant new ornamental trees or shrubs, particularly bare root roses.
The soil still retains its summer warmth and new roots have time to establish before there is any frost.
Keep newly planted trees and shrubs well watered in their first year.
Autumn is the best time to lightly prune deciduous trees and shrubs, remove any dead or diseased limbs and branches. Pruning helps to keep shrubs healthy, in shape and from growing too large.
Prune climbing and rambling roses and tie into their supports. Best cordless electric secateurs review
Leave shrub roses until later in the year to prune.
Autumn Lawn Care
Continue to mow the lawn in mild areas where it will still grow.
Keep the edges tidy.
If you have a deep coverage of leaves on the lawn, where they have possibly blown into piles or drifts then I would recommend clearing them. Large clumps of leaves will become wet and compacted and can damage grassed areas. If there is just a continual smattering of leaf fall then I suggest that you mulch them with the mower and leave them on the lawn as they will break down easily and provide a natural feed for the turf. Check out my what-is-the-best-leaf-blower/ review.
Lawns can become compacted, autumn is a good time to aerate and scarify.
bosch-avr-1100w-verticutter-scarifier-and-lawn-raker-review/
For further information read Autumn Lawn Maintenance in 5 Easy Steps
General Garden Autumn Maintenance
Leaf clearing, keep collected leaves to make leaf mulch or add them to the composting.
Keep on top of weeding, particularly paved areas, driveways, patios etc and borders. An electric weeder is a great tool for this job. Check out my Electric weeder burner review
Clean the greenhouse.
Cut back and clear overgrown or overhanging plants from pathways so that these areas are safely accessible through winter.
Remove drip irrigation systems and drain them down, clean and store them to use again next year.
Hose pipes too, can be drained and stored
Check outbuildings, sheds, storage areas and greenhouses for any necessary repairs or maintenance to keep them waterproof and safe for the winter months.
Give hedges and shrubs a trim to keep them maintained, tidy and healthy. Best cordless hedge trimmer review.
Vegetables And Fruit
You may well have lots of fruit to harvest from apple and pear trees and prune fruit trees.
Cut back fruited raspberry canes to the ground, also fruited stems of blackberry and loganberry can be pruned and tie in new growth.
Prepare the ground now for runner beans next year, dig trenches and fill with manure and compost.
Any last remaining beans and peas should be picked. When beans are finished cut the stems down to the ground and leave the roots in the ground, they will release valuable nitrogen into the soil.
Cover cauliflower heads, protect them from frost by pulling their leaves around them
Bring citrus trees indoors to a warm, light room such as a conservatory or heated greenhouse.
Vegetables To Grow In Autumn
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Kale
- PacChoi
- Beetroot
- Radishes
- Garlic
- Onions
- Peas
- Asparagus
- Late salad crops
Flower Seeds To Grow In October
- Allium
- Monarda
- Poppy
- Nemesia
- Scabiosa
- Nigella
- Cowslips
- Calandula
For more seeds to sow now take a look at UK based small independent company Stocks and Green
Future Planning For Your Garden
Make your own compost.
See how to make compost for the garden.
Organise seed packets
Continue planting spring flowering bulbs
Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs.
Buy protective fleece ready to use on delicate plants.
If you are planting a Wildflower meadow and haven’t yet prepare the ground, do so now. Scarify large areas of grass to reduce the amount of grass that grows and see my wild-flower-garden-ideas/
Jobs to do immediately? Right now? I advise a nice cup of coffee, put your feet up and enjoy your garden for a while. The jobs will be there to do later don’t worry, be happy.
Listen to the birds singing and let the sun in the trees lift your soul. Visit gardens too, a walk around gardens, woodlands or Arboretums gives you a huge lift as nature works to release your anxieties and worries. Take a stroll, time out and relax and enjoy.
Please share this article with friends and family and on social media, they might like some tips on what jobs to do in the garden in October too.
Please leave any views or questions in the comments box below
Happy Gardening
Your post on jobs to do in the garden in October is very timely for me. We’ve been looking at increasing our curb appeal in case we sell our home in the next couple of years. I’ve been doing some things in the garden toward this effort, so your tips are helpful.
It’s a bit colder where we live in eastern Canada, and we’ve already had a couple of good frosts this month. But there is still plenty in your post that we can tackle, especially the tips for pruning and tidying. We used to leave the leaves on the ground and clean them up in the spring, but I think I’ll collect them this year and start some composting.
Thanks for the great ideas for fall gardening,
Stella 🙂
Hello Stella,
Thank You for your comments, there have been a couple of frosts in the north of UK, but as you say still jobs to do.
I get lots of leaves and they make great compost, either add them to other garden waste in a general compost or back them up in net or sack bags and leave them still Spring, they make a lovey healthy mulch.
You have given me an idea for another article too.
Happy Gardening
Louise
Lovely to see all the jobs needing to be done set out so clearly. To keep a garden neat, tidy and enjoyable is a never ending job all year round. You can always find a good reason the be outdoors enjoying the fresh air.
We do our own composting, it’s amazing how much better the plants grow when you use your own compost, especially in tubs, when you plant in the spring.
I love that you recommended visiting other gardens or just walking in nature as that is so good for body and soul.
Thank you, very enjoyable article. I will share on social media for others to enjoy.
Hello Linda, thank you for your kind comments. Always something to do in a garden isn’t there?
I think autumn is a fabulous time to be out and about too.
Plants do grow better in good home made compost and you know exactly what is in it and is is fully organic.
Best Wishes
Louise
Nice, well laid out post! Thank you for sharing, we just bought our house recently and this gives us ideas of where to start. We live in the southern United States so it has actually just cooled down enough to really start focusing on the yard. How harsh are your winters in the UK? There is not much of a winter here but it may freeze a time or two, is planting vegetables something that will survive a freeze? Thank you again for sharing!
Hi Travis, thank you for dropping by.
We have different zones in the Uk too, basically the further North the colder it gets in winter with more severe frosts and snow fall.
I am in the Southwest, we rarely get prolonged freezing weather.
In answer to your question on veg, Some veg can survive under snow—but not sustained freezing temperatures or ice–these include asparagus, rhubarb, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, spinach, endive, horseradish, kohlrabi, kale, onions, parsley, parsnips, radishes, and turnips. Turnips and parsnips taste better if left until there is a frost before harvesting.
Hope this helps.
Louise
Hi! October is here. And there is a lot of work to do in our garden. I’ll start by taking care of beds and borders as you have suggested. I’m also excited about trying some new autumn plants to give further long-lasting autumn colour in the borders.
I need a leaf blower. And I’m glad you also adresssed this point and gave us a link to a review. I’ll take a look at it. Thanks.
Hi Henry,
Thank you for your comments,
Lots to do, beds and borders are a great start and leaf blowers are a godsend, they make clearing up a lot easier.
Happy gardening
Louise
Hi Louise,
I’m fairly new to gardening; and I had no idea that October was the ideal time of year to grow some of my favourite vegetables! I literally eat broccoli, Kale, cauliflower, garlic, onions and Asparagus every day. So being able to grow my own would A bring the cost right down and B mean I can ensure the quality. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Nate,
You’re welcome, Growing Your Own veg is awesome,cheaper, healthier and more fun.
Thank you
Happy Gardening, let me know what you grow.
Louise
Living in a tiny part of South east Asia, we don’t actually have autumn. Our season only varies between hot and rainy ones. It’s great to know how other countries prepare their gardens on different seasons. Still good to know how to maintain plants, trees, and even shrubs because those techniques can still be applied no matter what part of the world you live in.
We have continuous harvests of the usual veggies. Right now, fruits for cold seasons are beginning to be sold in the market such as persimmons which we import from China and other cold places in Asia. I thought I might share this. But anyway, thanks for this wonderful read. I have to agree that we must enjoy our nature, therefore taking are of it comes along with. Have a nice day ahead and happy planting!
Thank you MissusB for your comments and insights to Asia gardening.
True the world offers so many different climates and weather zones, as you say it is interesting to learn what other countries do.
I have never eaten persimmons,and having continuous veg must be wonderful.
Happy Planting to you too.
Louise
Indeed, autumn is a very colourful time of the year and spending some time in the garden to make if more beautiful is a solid idea. The cooler days of autumn are already here and some people will be looking to pack away their garden tools. Don’t, expanding your garden will be a soul-enriching task. Other than the vegetables mentioned above, some other ones you can plant this October include brussel sprouts, carrots, lettuce, and parsnips.
Hello Amanda, I appreciate your comments,
Yes indeed, autumn is a lovely time of year and there is always lots to do in our garden.
Sounds like you grow lots of veg 👍🏻The list goes on, what can be grown.
Thank You Happy Gardening
Louise