Autumn Gardening
I love October for all sorts of reasons, predictably the rich autumnal colours, the occasional unexpected sunshine and the dewy mornings, but also for the slower pace in the garden. The autumnal race started last month, getting the garden sorted before winter.
September seems such a frantic and busy month, and so I find October much more relaxing, mellow and giving. Of course, there is still plenty to keep us busy in the garden and the kitchen as we continue to harvest and store, plant trees, shrubs and bulbs and prepare our gardens for the chillier months ahead.
Having only just finished harvesting my Sweet Peas that I sowed in February, I am going to start sowing again in November ( under cover), continuing through the winter and into the Spring. If you haven't saved seed you will need to buy now in preparation. Sowing in Autumn should produce earlier flowering and strong plants. Sweet Pea ‘Matucana”, Sweet Pea “Windsor”, Sweet Pea “ Lord Nelson” Sweet Pea “Memorial Flight”.
October is a good time to prepare the ground ready for planting bare root trees and shrubs in November. I have been so delighted with the performance, colour and scent of my “Darcey Bussell” rose from “David Austin” that I have ordered another 5.
iration which this opportunity provides and the sharing of knowledge,that most gardeners enjoy doing. I was delighted that the Charity Open Gardens in Bessacarr, Doncaster, were taking place this year and I had a lovely afternoon with my mother- in - law looking around so many different and beautiful gardens with a spot of retail therapy too , purchasing home nurtured plants !
I have decided to move all the buttery/yellow flowers from the blue border and replace with flowers of deep dark plummy magenta’s as the contrasting colour harmony in this border - The Darcy Bussell’s will be a good start here and I will be preparing the blue border ready to receive them.
October is a great time for altering and changing the garden, don’t be afraid to move or divide plants to suit you. Just make sure you prepare the area and look up individual plant care instructions prior to re homing.
If you have been thinking about adding a hedge then October is a good time to plant. Evergreen and Deciduous hedges planted firmly and watered well until established will do well planted in the Autumn.
It is a good time to plant a fruit tree.
Plant Herbaceous perennials or lift and divide any out of control large clumps in your garden.
Plant all spring bulbs with the exception of tulips which will benefit from planting later, towards the end of the month or November.
If you haven't already done so, then it really is time to prune climbing roses and tie them in before the wintery windy weather begins to batter them.
- Prune Buddleia
- Keep weeding and deadheading.
- Clear lawns and borders of fallen leaves and apples.
Continue to tidy up the borders, remove plant supports and store for the winter. Mulch areas. Clearance and preparation of soil.
In the raised vegetable beds, once harvested and cleared its important to dig over the ground well and then dig in some well made garden compost or buy in compost to nourish the soil. Once you have done this you can protect the area by laying a cover over the ground which can be removed ready for planting at the end of the winter.
Lift and store any potatoes and carrots.
Plant Garlic. Autumn Onion sets and Spring Cabbages.
Make jams, chutney, jellies, and store your produce.
Decorate a Pumpkin.
Make an Autumn wreath for the door - Chinese Lanterns, Seed heads, twisted willow, Corylus avellana, Sunflowers, Sedum.
Continue to bring flowers inside, I am still arranging;
Dahlia,Cosmos,Nerine,Roses,Sedum, Anenome and Sunflowers.
ENJOY!!!