| October is the time when you should start getting | | | | to your compost. Only dig the roots in the next |
| ready for up and coming winter even though we | | | | time you dig the bed in, the compost will then act |
| are only a few weeks into autumn. The jobs that | | | | as fertilizer. |
| need doing this month involve tidying the garden | | | | Maybe start to think about digging your beds |
| and harvesting any grown fruit. | | | | over in the next few weeks, frost will then help |
| Your Lawn | | | | to break lumps down. |
| Your garden lawn should be starting to slow down | | | | You should be harvesting any Pear or Apple trees |
| with less growth so you are only looking at one | | | | you may have. |
| or two more cuts. On these occasions raise the | | | | Now is a good time to think about planting spring |
| cutting height on your mower to give the roots | | | | cabbages, do beware of the pigeons and make |
| more protection over the up and coming winter | | | | sure you cover these up. |
| months. | | | | Your Borders |
| You may live in a cold area, if so now is the time | | | | If you have any herbaceous plants that aren't |
| to carry out any work to the lawn. Use an | | | | flowering or have simply got too big, these can |
| autumn lawn feed to help your lawn through the | | | | now be divided. |
| colder months. | | | | With frost now threatening you need to look at |
| Make sure any fallen leaves are cleared; these will | | | | removing any summer bedding before these |
| block sunlight from getting to your lawn which | | | | plants are killed off. |
| could lead to your grass turning yellow. | | | | If the frost has blackened your Dahlias it's time |
| Your Greenhouse | | | | for them to be moved to a cold greenhouse so |
| Now is the time to give your Greenhouse a clean. | | | | the frost can't get to them. |
| Emptying your Greenhouse completely will make | | | | Flowering bulbs for Spring should be planted now. |
| this an easier job all round. Cleaning now will clear | | | | October is also a very good month to plant trees. |
| any dead plants making the area ready for the | | | | Garden Pruning |
| next season. Once clean you can put your plants | | | | If you didn't cut back your hedges last month, |
| back. | | | | then this is your last chance before winter. |
| It's also a good time to think about insulating your | | | | Prune back your Budlia, Roses and Lavatera to |
| Greenhouse, bubble wrap can work wonders and | | | | about half. This will stop the wind from damaging |
| can also help bring the cost of your heating bills | | | | the roots during the winter months as well as tidy |
| right down over the colder months. | | | | them up. Tie back any shoots you have on |
| It's important to ensure that you don't get your | | | | climbing roses. |
| Greenhouse too wet at the moment. This could | | | | Garden Birds |
| lead to mould and your plants dying off. | | | | If you have bird feeders and baths then be sure |
| Despite the weather becoming cooler, you can still | | | | that these are now kept clean. Also keep them |
| grow Sweet Peas during the next few months | | | | well stocked up with different bird feeds. This will |
| ready for Springtime ready to be planted out in | | | | help the birds you have been feeding over the |
| March next year. | | | | next few months. |
| Your Vegetable Garden | | | | If you want to feed Hedgehogs over the coming |
| Did you cut back any Asparagus you may have | | | | months, then be sure to use special foods that |
| had growing last month? Well if not, make sure | | | | are available on the internet or in pet shops. It's a |
| this is done this month. | | | | common myth that Hedgehogs should be fed |
| Onions should be planted now to be ready for | | | | bread and milk, this can be dangerous to them, so |
| next Spring and early Summer. | | | | do stick to foods that are available and you will be |
| You can cut off the tops of your Peas and Beans | | | | pleased to know that they love Slugs. |
| this month. These can then be cut up and added | | | | |