TINA WOODHAMS GARDENING NOTES FOR OCTOBER
October is the time to embrace the vibrant colours in our gardens and surrounding countryside - the golds, reds and bronzes of tree foliage and autumn flowers together with the harvest of later ripening fruits and of course this month's favourite, the pumpkin.
Look out for forecasts of early frosts and be ready to move tender plants under cover. Empty summer pots and hanging baskets and plant up for autumn interest. Cyclamen, heather, skimmia and heuchera provide a colourful display as well as wallflowers and pansies which also make a great addition to flower borders. Raise the pots off the ground using 'pot feet' (bricks will also suffice) to prevent waterlogging and frost damage and water sparingly.
This month marks the start of the tidying up season for winter and preparation for next year. Keep warm and burn those calories (an extra hot chocolate can be justified!). Rake up fallen leaves and store in a large leaf mould bin or heap to rot down.
In the flower borders, cut down perennials and divide. More tender plants such as penstemon, fuschia and salvia should be left so that this year's stems protect the crown from frost and then cut back in spring of the following year. After cutting down, mulch the borders with well rotted manure and garden or mushroom compost. Not only providing protection from frost, this aids improved plant growth by adding nutrients, reducing water loss from the soil and suppressing weeds leaving some stems for winter interest and as food and a habitat for wildlife.
Reduce the height of shrub roses and prune rambling and climbing roses when they have finished flowering. Tie in the stems, again to reduce the effects of damage caused by autumn winds. Clear up any fallen rose leaves, however do not compost these in order to reduce the spread of fungal diseases such as black spot. Take hardwood cuttings from ornamental trees and shrubs, including shrubby herbs such as rosemary lemon verbena and thyme. Continue to plant spring flowering bulbs, either informally in drifts in lawns or borders, or in containers. Tulips prefer colder conditions and perform better if planted in November.
October is a great time to get ahead in the vegetable patch so make early sowings of hardy cultivars of onions, shallots, garlic, broad beans and peas to give an earlier crop next season. Spring cabbages can be planted out now, together with new rhubarb crowns and existing crowns may be divided. Stake winter Brassica such as Brussels sprouts and purple sprouting broccoli as they become top heavy with crops and harvest the final crops of beans and courgettes, squashes and pumpkins. Cloches can be used to cover salad leaves to prolong the cropping season. Clear away any other old crops to deter pests and diseases, leaving a few pods on runner and french beans to ripen fully so the seeds can be saved for next year. Cut down spent asparagus shoots to soil level as they turn to yellow.
Happy Gardening ....and enjoy that well-earned hot chocolate!