FLOWER GARDEN
Many blooms are still looking beautiful this month, especially if the first frost has not arrived. Magnificent Japanese Anamone’s will provide structure, height and glorious flowers late into the year, as should the myriads of fuchsias. Hardy varieties such as Tom Thumb and Lady Thumb are dwarf plants that grow no bigger than 30-45 cm but flower non-stop until the first frosts. When they do start to die down, mulch around the base with compost or bark and leave the plants alone as they will come again next year.
Protect any tender plants like dahlias by digging up the tubers and store in a frost free, dry spot to replant again next year. Continue to plant spring bulbs like hyacinths, daffodils, tulips and crocuses for a fantastic show next spring.
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PLOT
October is the ideal time for planting bare-root fruit trees. Apples, cherries, plums, and pears are often cheap to buy. ‘Discovery’ is a popular variety of apple to plant this way, ‘Victoria’ a classic heavy cropping and delicious plum, and ‘Morello’ a perfect cherry if you have north facing walls or shade.
October is the perfect month to continue sowing your winter lettuce, broad beans and overwintering peas.
PROTECTING & TIDYING
All tender or exotic plants need to be moved into a greenhouse, conservatory, or frost-free shed before the first frost hits, and make sure you don’t forget to ensure the greenhouse, or any cold frames are winter ready.
Autumn gales can severely damage climbing plants like roses, so lightly trim them to prevent “wind-rock” damage. Continue to regularly rake up fallen leaves from your lawn so they don’t block out light and aerate the soil if it’s prone to waterlogging. You can make the most of your fallen leaves by making them into a nutritious mulch. Simply gather up the leaves and pack them into black bin bags with a few holes poked in the sides. Then leave them in a quiet corner of your garden for anything up to a year and you will be left with a highly nutritious mulch for your garden.
Rob Bullock
