Top 10 Things to Do in the Garden in October
Now spring is here it's time to make your garden pretty and productive by planting and sowing flowers, herbs and vegetables
Put on the gardening gloves, grab your secateurs and trowel and head outdoors to deadhead your roses, plant early potatoes and sow seed for summer flowering annuals including cosmos, sunflower and zinnia. For those living in frost-prone regions, remember to protect tender seedlings, as spring weather is notoriously variable. After all the work is done, just sit back and watch it all bloom.
2. Plant bee attractants
Cosmos (pictured here) is one of many easy-to-grow annuals that will attract bees and other pollinators to your garden. Fill any space you can find with these and other attractants, such as alyssum, aster, Californian poppy, cornflower, dianthus, forget-me-not, lobelia, sunflower and zinnia.
You could also try perennials including aquilegia, catmint, cleome, dahlia, flax, Helenium, echinacea, pentstemon and salvia.
BONUS TIP: It’s handy to remember that bees prefer single, traditional-type flowers, not highly modified cultivars.
Cosmos (pictured here) is one of many easy-to-grow annuals that will attract bees and other pollinators to your garden. Fill any space you can find with these and other attractants, such as alyssum, aster, Californian poppy, cornflower, dianthus, forget-me-not, lobelia, sunflower and zinnia.
You could also try perennials including aquilegia, catmint, cleome, dahlia, flax, Helenium, echinacea, pentstemon and salvia.
BONUS TIP: It’s handy to remember that bees prefer single, traditional-type flowers, not highly modified cultivars.
3. Protect against late frosts
In cooler areas there’s always the risk of a cold spell in October just when you thought it was safe to plant out your tender seedlings. It’s best to keep cloches and frost cloth handy to cover your seedlings at night, but don’t forget to remove them in the morning.
In cooler areas there’s always the risk of a cold spell in October just when you thought it was safe to plant out your tender seedlings. It’s best to keep cloches and frost cloth handy to cover your seedlings at night, but don’t forget to remove them in the morning.
4. Plant flowering climbers
If you live in a warmer region, now is a good time to plant beautiful subtropical climbers such as mandevilla, Beaumontia, stephanotis, thunbergia and passion flower (Passiflora). Most need a sheltered spot, plenty of moisture and fertile soil. Mandevilla suaveolens (pictured here) is deciduous and produces highly scented flowers in summer.
If you live in a warmer region, now is a good time to plant beautiful subtropical climbers such as mandevilla, Beaumontia, stephanotis, thunbergia and passion flower (Passiflora). Most need a sheltered spot, plenty of moisture and fertile soil. Mandevilla suaveolens (pictured here) is deciduous and produces highly scented flowers in summer.
5. Repot orchids
Once flowering is over, orchids in containers can be repotted using a good orchid mix. Alternatively, make your own moisture-retentive mix using sandy soil, charcoal and fine bark.
Once flowering is over, orchids in containers can be repotted using a good orchid mix. Alternatively, make your own moisture-retentive mix using sandy soil, charcoal and fine bark.
6. Sow seed for herbs, edibles and summer flowers
Sowing seed is much cheaper than buying seedlings, and more rewarding in lots of ways, although it does take a little more time. There are many online seed suppliers with extensive catalogues these days. Depending on the temperature in your region plant either directly into the garden or in trays for planting out later once seedlings have formed.
Sowing seed is much cheaper than buying seedlings, and more rewarding in lots of ways, although it does take a little more time. There are many online seed suppliers with extensive catalogues these days. Depending on the temperature in your region plant either directly into the garden or in trays for planting out later once seedlings have formed.
7. Fill pots and containers with bold blooms
Choose heat-loving bloomers, such as these brightly coloured zinnias, which are ideal for pots, tubs and hanging baskets. Mix with other sun lovers including petunia and nemesia. Grow from seed or buy young plants from the garden centre.
Choose heat-loving bloomers, such as these brightly coloured zinnias, which are ideal for pots, tubs and hanging baskets. Mix with other sun lovers including petunia and nemesia. Grow from seed or buy young plants from the garden centre.
8. Sow sunflowers
Sunflowers are perfect for children to sow as seeds are easy to handle and plants are fast growing and easy to care for. What’s more, the flowers are great for picking. Sweet peas are also easy seeds for children to sow.
PLANTING TIPS: Choose a sunny position in well-drained soil and plant taller varieties near the fence. Stake as they get taller. Sunflowers can be grown in pots, but choose good-quality potting mix and use a very large container.
Sunflowers are perfect for children to sow as seeds are easy to handle and plants are fast growing and easy to care for. What’s more, the flowers are great for picking. Sweet peas are also easy seeds for children to sow.
PLANTING TIPS: Choose a sunny position in well-drained soil and plant taller varieties near the fence. Stake as they get taller. Sunflowers can be grown in pots, but choose good-quality potting mix and use a very large container.
9. Plant early potatoes
Potatoes are an easy vegetable to grow. If planting them in a pot, be sure to choose a pot with good drainage and plenty of depth (30-40cm). Start with a 10cm layer of potting mix in the base, then place 3-5 seed potatoes (depending on how large the pot is) into the pot and cover with about 5cm of potting mix. Water well. Place in a sunny spot and don’t allow the mix to dry out. When green leaves emerge (like in the potatoes pictured) continue to add more potting mix until the pot is full.
To plant potatoes in the garden, dig shallow trenches 15cm deep and place tubers in the base. Cover with 5-10cm soil. Space plants about 30cm apart. Mound up soil around leafy tops once they reach 15-20cm high to protect tubers and encourage more potatoes to form on stems. Repeat every 2-3 weeks until plants flower.
Potatoes are an easy vegetable to grow. If planting them in a pot, be sure to choose a pot with good drainage and plenty of depth (30-40cm). Start with a 10cm layer of potting mix in the base, then place 3-5 seed potatoes (depending on how large the pot is) into the pot and cover with about 5cm of potting mix. Water well. Place in a sunny spot and don’t allow the mix to dry out. When green leaves emerge (like in the potatoes pictured) continue to add more potting mix until the pot is full.
To plant potatoes in the garden, dig shallow trenches 15cm deep and place tubers in the base. Cover with 5-10cm soil. Space plants about 30cm apart. Mound up soil around leafy tops once they reach 15-20cm high to protect tubers and encourage more potatoes to form on stems. Repeat every 2-3 weeks until plants flower.
10. Plant late summer flowering bulbs
Amaryllis, nerine and other late-blooming bulbs can be planted outside now in frost-free areas or inside in pots. Seen here, frost-tolerant naked lady (Amaryllis belladona) can, however, be planted out in the garden in colder places. Plant under trees in well-drained soil where it can naturalise.
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Amaryllis, nerine and other late-blooming bulbs can be planted outside now in frost-free areas or inside in pots. Seen here, frost-tolerant naked lady (Amaryllis belladona) can, however, be planted out in the garden in colder places. Plant under trees in well-drained soil where it can naturalise.
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Easy Vegetable Gardens for Black Thumbs
Top 10 Plants for Minimum Effort and Maximum Impact
How to Choose the Best Plants for a Small Garden
How to Turn Your Garden Into a Masterpiece
Deadhead (remove) spent flowers of newly planted roses and cut blooms with short stems to encourage more flowers on repeat flowering varieties. If you cut just above a leaf with five leaflets you should get a new flower appearing within a few weeks
BONUS TIP: Pick roses early in the morning or evening and put the stems straight into a deep container of tepid water up to base of flowers. Re-cut under water a few millimetres up stems. Keep vases topped up with water and position away from direct sunlight.