Gardening jobs this month: October

What to do in the garden in October, from the gardening experts of Prima and Country Living

From Prima gardening expert Ann-Marie Powell:

■ Clear falling autumn leaves.

■ Plant out spring cabbages, autumn onion sets and garlic.

■ Sow hardy broad beans and peas.

■ Plant spring bulbs.

■ Harvest grapes, nuts, tomatoes, apples and pears for storing.

■ Start planting new trees and shrubs.

■ Mow lawns and trim hedges for the last time this year.

■ Keep deadheading, watering and feeding your hanging baskets to keep them going for as long as possible.

■ Plant up lilies in pots.

■ Turn the compost heap.

■ Sow sweet pea seeds in pots in the cold frame to produce early blooms next year.

■ Sow hardy annuals.

■ Take hardwood cuttings of buddleja, cut-leaved or purple elders, forsythia, willow, flowering currant, gooseberries, and red-, white- and blackcurrants.

 

 

From Country Living gardening editor Stephanie Donaldson:

■ Buy bare-root wallflowers and plant deep to prevent them from becoming leggy.

■ Remove saucers beneath containers to avoid frost damage and waterlogging.

■ Plant all spring bulbs except tulips which need to wait until next month.

 

■ Sow green manure on bare ground in a vegetable garden.

 

■ Spread leaf mould where you are planning to grow root vegetables next year.

 

---

You might also like...

Get more gardening advice here: planting ideas, expert ideas and inspiration