Gardening Tasks – Oct 2022

After such a hot and dry Summer, September brought the cooler weather and some very welcome rainfall to turn our lawns green once more.

The cool starts and beautiful misty mornings herald Autumn and they signal that it is now time to start tidying up and preparing for Winter, whilst still enjoying the last harvests and the golden Autumnal sunshine whenever we can.

Harvesting

If you have grown apples or pears, they should now be ready to pick and enjoy. There
are also blackberries and sloes to be found in the hedgerows.

Protecting from early frosts

Move any tender plants, including houseplants, into a conservatory or greenhouse and check your greenhouse heater to make sure it is working properly.

Outdoor pots and containers

Stop feeding your container plants as they are slowing down for the winter. Remove any drip trays from under planted containers and raise terracotta patio pots with bricks or special pot feet so they don’t sit in water over winter and crack when it freezes.

Lawns

Mow when you can, but if you wish to remove any moss in your lawn, treat with a combination moss killer and fertiliser then scarify to remove the dead moss. If your lawn is in good condition it will still benefit from a granular or liquid Autumn feed which will “green it up” and sustain the grass through the winter months.

Splitting and moving Perennials

While you can still identify the various clumps of perennials in your flowerbeds, dig them up and divide any which may be getting too big and transplant any which you think are in the wrong place. Transplanting at this time of year gives them a chance to settle in over the Winter and gives them a strong start for next year.

Planting bulbs, trees and shrubs

Continue planting your spring bulbs, but delay planting your tulip bulbs until November. This is still a good time to plant shrubs and trees but avoid very wet or frosty days.

Tidying up and taking time out

Collect leaves as they fall, putting them in a separate compost bin or in black bin liners to rot down into leaf mulch to be used next Autumn to condition your soil.

If you can, take a walk one the lovely peaceful misty mornings or just sit and take some time to enjoy the Autumnal views of your garden in the low October sunlight.