October
October is the best time to plant!
Lawns:
- Increase the height of the mower blades.
- This is the best month for laying turf.
- Sweep up fallen leaves.
- Scarify by giving the lawn a good rake to remove dead material and encourage the grass to thicken by developing runners and side shoots.
- Aerate compacted areas using a garden fork or hollow tine fork.
- Apply an autumn lawn feed to promote root development and strengthen the grass to withstand the rigours of winter.
Flower Border:
- Plant Roses and deciduous trees and shrubs.
- Divide perennials that have outgrown their space and have finished flowering.
- Once the frost has blackened the foliage of Dahlias cut down the stems to about six inches and lift the tubers.
- Lift and store Gladioli.
- Continue to plant spring flowering bulbs.
- Divide clumps of Lilies that have become overgrown.
Vegetable Patch:
- Prepare the vegetable patch for next year’s planting.
- Dig over the area to open up the soil so that air and water may penetrate and incorporate garden compost or composted manure.
- Pot up some roots of mint and place on a sunny window sill for a winter supply.
Fruit Garden:
- Plant fruit trees and bushes.
