What to do in October

In October, autumn is well and truly underway and the garden begins to slow down as the days get shorter and temperatures cool. It’s a month for tidying up, finishing off harvesting, preparing for winter and planning for next year’s growing season:

Things to do in October:

Rake up fallen leaves and make leaf-mould.
Continue clearing up the garden and burn any diseased material.
Dig over empty areas of soil.
Lay turf to make new lawns.
Collect any leaves that have fallen into ponds.
Finish planting evergreen shrubs.
Take hardwood cuttings from shrubs.
Collect berries from trees and shrubs for sowing.
Give conifer hedges a last trim if needed.
Plant climbers, perennials and lily and tulip bulbs.
Divide any overgrown perennials.
Protect alpines from winter wet.
Lift and store dahlias, gladioli and summer-flowering bulbs making sure you label them first.
Cut down the dying tops of perennial vegetables.
Lift and divide rhubarb.
Fix grease bands to apple and pear tree trunks.
Insulate the greenhouse and check heaters are working.

Last Chance:

Sow grass seed in milder areas.
Finish planting spring bedding.
Harvest apples and pears before they are damaged.
Lift and store your potatoes and carrots.

Getting Ahead:

Prepare the ground for planting bare-root stock.
Make early sowings of broad beans and sow sweet peas under cover.

The Weather

Cooling rapidly as autumn settles in, with chilly nights and frequent rain. Average day time temperatures ranging from 12°C to 14°C and night time temperatures between 6°C and 9°C. Early autumn weather can be mild, but temperatures drop significantly as the month progresses.
October tends to be a wetter month, with more frequent rain and sometimes storms.
Shorter days, with less sunshine.

Here’s a detailed checklist of what to do in the garden during October, broken down into categories for clarity. This is a pivotal month for preparing your garden for winter and setting the stage for a vibrant spring.

General Tasks

Weeding:	Continue weeding garden beds to prevent weeds from going to seed and spreading. It's easier to deal with them now than in spring when they have more time to establish. Their growth should tail off as the month gets cooler.
Autumn tidy-up:	Begin clearing away any dead or decaying plant matter from flower beds and vegetable patches. Remove spent annuals, dead leaves and faded flowers to prevent disease build-up.
Mulching:	Apply a thick layer of mulch to protect plant roots from cold weather, particularly around tender plants, shrubs and perennials. Use organic mulch like compost, leaf mould or bark.
Cut back perennials:	Cut back any perennials that have finished flowering to tidy the garden. However, leave some plants, like grasses, to provide structure and interest over the winter months.
Pest control:	Keep an eye out for pests like slugs, snails and aphids. You can still spot-treat with organic pest control methods, but overall, pests are less active as the weather cools.

Vegetables & Herbs

Harvesting:	Continue to harvest any remaining crops such as carrots, parsnips, leeks, cabbages, kale and squash. These can often withstand the cooler temperatures and can be stored for winter. Squashes can be harvested and left to dry in the sun for a few days before being stored.
Tomatoes:	Lift plants and discard (not on the compost heap), any remaining fruit is unlikely to ripen on the plants, put on a windows sill to ripen or put next to a banana.
Sowing:	Now is the time to sow hardy winter vegetables like garlic, onions and broad beans for an early crop next year. You can also sow winter lettuce or spinach under cover.
Store vegetables:	Harvest root vegetables like carrots and potatoes and store them in a cool, dry place. Leave some vegetables in the ground, like parsnips, which can be harvested as needed throughout the winter.
Prune herbs:	Trim back any herbs, such as rosemary, thyme and basil, before they stop growing. Some, like mint, can be potted up and brought inside to overwinter.
Prepare for winter:	If frost is expected, take steps to protect tender vegetables and herbs, either by covering them with fleece or bringing potted plants inside.

Fruit

Harvesting:	October is the busiest month for harvesting fruit. Pick apples, pears, quinces and any remaining grapes or figs. Be sure to pick before they are overripe to prevent attracting pests.
Store apples and pears:	Sort the harvested apples and pears, discarding any with bruises and store them in a cool, dark place. Make sure they are spaced out to avoid contact with one another, which can lead to rot.
Prune raspberries:	After harvesting, cut back the canes of summer-fruiting raspberries to ground level. Leave new canes for next year’s crop.
Propagation:	Now is the time to start taking hardwood cuttings of gooseberries, currents, figs and grapes.
Plant new fruit trees:	October is a great time to plant bare-root fruit trees, such as apples, pears, plums or cherries. Plant them in a sunny spot and make sure to water them well.
Clean fruit cages and supports:	Clean and disinfect fruit cages, supports and containers to prepare for next year and to reduce the spread of diseases like mildew.

The Flower Garden

Prune roses:	Remove any dead, damaged or diseased wood from rose bushes. Avoid heavy pruning until later in the winter, but it’s good to tidy up now.
Cut back spent perennials:	Cut back perennials that have finished flowering, such as dahlias and chrysanthemums, leaving attractive seed heads for winter interest. Leave plants like Echinacea and rudbeckia for the birds to feed on.
Plant biennials:	October is a good time to plant biennials like foxgloves, wallflowers and pansies for early blooms next year.
Collect seed:	Collect seeds from flowers like sweet peas, hollyhocks and nigella. Store them in a cool, dry place to sow in spring.
Plant bulbs:	Start planting spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths. Plant them at the correct depth and space them out in well-drained soil.

The Greenhouse

Harvesting:	Keep harvesting any late-season crops like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Ensure they’re picked regularly to encourage the plants to keep producing.
Plant winter crops:	You can plant hardy winter crops, such as lettuce, spinach or winter radishes, in the greenhouse to extend your growing season.
Ventilation:	Even in cooler months, it’s important to ventilate the greenhouse on sunny days to prevent mould and mildew. Close it up at night to retain heat.
Watering:	As the days get cooler, reduce watering for greenhouse plants. Be careful not to overwater, as plants need less moisture in the autumn.
Prepare for winter:	Clean greenhouse glass, shelving and pots to keep pests and diseases at bay. You may also want to invest in greenhouse heaters or thermostats to help regulate the temperature during winter.

Containers

Plant autumn bedding:	Replace summer annuals with autumn bedding plants like pansies, violas or ornamental kale for a colourful display through autumn and winter.
Deadhead container plants:	Remove any spent flowers from containers to keep them tidy and encourage the remaining blooms to last longer.
Watering:	As temperatures drop, water containers less frequently. Be sure to allow the soil to dry out a little between watering to prevent root rot.
Prepare for winter:	If frost is expected, either bring containers into a more sheltered area or wrap them in bubble wrap or fleece to prevent frost damage to the roots.

Trees & Shrubs

Plant new trees and shrubs:	October is a great time to plant bare-root trees and shrubs, as the soil is still warm, which helps new plants establish roots before the colder weather arrives.
Prune deciduous trees:	Cut back dead, diseased or damaged branches from deciduous trees and shrubs. Avoid heavy pruning until later in the winter, but this is a good time to remove any problem growth.
Feeding:	Apply a slow-release, balanced fertiliser to trees and shrubs to help them prepare for the winter months.
Mulch trees:	Apply a protective layer of mulch around the base of trees and shrubs to keep the roots insulated from the cold and conserve moisture.
Prepare for winter:	If you have tender shrubs, such as camellias or citrus, make sure they are protected from frost by covering them with fleece or moving them into a sheltered location.

Hedges

Trim hedges:	Trim hedges to maintain their shape and encourage dense growth. Avoid cutting too far back, as this can leave the hedge vulnerable to frost damage.
Water newly planted hedges:	Ensure that newly planted hedges are well-watered before the ground freezes, especially if the weather has been dry.
Pests:	Inspect hedges for any signs of pest damage or disease, such as aphids or powdery mildew and treat them promptly.

The Lawn

Mowing:	Continue mowing the lawn if it’s still growing, but reduce the frequency. Raise the cutting height slightly to allow the grass to grow longer for winter protection.
Watering:	Water the lawn if it hasn’t rained in a while, especially if it is newly seeded or in dry conditions.
Aerating:	If the lawn is compacted, consider aerating it to improve airflow and water penetration to the roots.
Feeding:	Apply a fertiliser with high potassium levels to help strengthen the grass before the winter and ensure it’s in good condition for spring growth.
Clear leaves:	Regularly rake up fallen leaves to keep the lawn healthy. A layer of leaves left on the grass can smother the lawn and lead to fungal diseases.

Wildlife and the Pond

Clear fallen leaves:	Regularly remove fallen leaves from the pond’s surface to prevent them from decomposing and affecting water quality.
Check water levels:	Make sure the pond water level is consistent. Top up with rainwater if needed and remove any debris that could cause blockages.
Wildlife:	If you have fish or amphibians in your pond, ensure there are areas where they can find shelter as temperatures drop. You may also want to use a pond heater to prevent the water from freezing completely.
Prepare for winter:	Begin preparing your pond for winter by cutting back any marginal plants and removing any pond heaters or pumps for the season.

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