A bricklayer working on a garden recently said to me: “We need to have another season: there needs to be a new one between summer and autumn”.
Out of the mouths of babes and bricklayers come such pearls.
I have been hesitant to post any top-tips for October as it has been so unlike the beginning of autumn. Designing gardens in Hampshire isn’t always straightforward!
So now I am listing the tasks for both October and November to cover all options. One good thing to emerge from all this is that we have had more time to get bulb planting done: in the last week I have been part of efforts to plant at least a couple of thousand of them. Much to look forward to by local community groups and country gardens.
It is still mild enough to divide herbaceous plants and to make the most of nature’s bounty: I am still staggered how many small plants you can get from a divided Geranium and how, in turn they can be multiplied again. The gift that keeps on giving – and there are hundreds of plants that are possible to divide: Asters, Bergenia, Campanula, Echinops…to name but a few!
• Now is the time of year to prune Japanese maples. Make sure you cut right back to the branch or stem so as not to leave a “clothes peg”!
• Raking leaves can seem to be an endless task, but it is worth it. Firstly, it allows the lawn to breathe and reduces the chance of mould developing in your lawn. Secondly, the leaves are good news in a compost heap when a layer of soil is added every 30 cm or so.
• Burning leaves is another way of processing them: the ash is good for the soil as it is high on potassium - the element that encourages fruit and flowers. Add any diseased plant material to the fire too including rose leaves that have black spot.
• Put rabbit guards on new trees to stop them gnawing at the bark if food is scarce in a harsh winter. Check tree ties too: loosen one that are too tight as this restriction can inhibit the flow of sap and therefore nutrients, around the tree.
• Prune shrub and standard roses by about a third in order that the wind does not move them around and damage the root system.
• Lift pots and containers off the ground by a few centimetres and give them “feet” of tiles or stone to avoid water logging. Pots that are fragile should have their winter wrap to prevent frost damage: bubble wrap is effective.
• Continue to mow lawns until the frosts come in, raising your blade to the maximum height as the month goes on.
• Put out bird feed such as fat balls or hanging peanut feeders.
• If you are into gin (I’m sure not!), now is a good time to go foraging for sloes – those wonderful bluish berries that adorn hedgerows at this time of year.
• When the frosts really do kick in, be prepared by protecting tender perennials with mulch, straw or bark chippings. Salvias and Penstemons are particularly vulnerable.
• Give your compost heap a good turning over. If the compost has rotted down well enough and has a high enough level of humus (the dark, nutrient rich essence that retains moisture and attracts trace elements), then autumn is a good time to spread it on the borders as a mulch.
• Rake the leaves off ornamental lawns to allow light and air to circulate and prevent patches of mildew developing.
• Lifting and dividing overgrown perennials that have lost their vigorous core.
• With the colder weather arriving, it is coming into the time when it is safe to lift and move trees and shrubs. Be careful not to allow the roots to dry out.
• Check tree ties and stakes in preparation for windy weather to come.
• Aerating the lawn either with a dedicated tool or the good old method of jumping on a fork will improve drainage and so the health of the grass.
• Burn dead and diseased leaves and debris (if the neighbours are happy with this!). This basic garden hygiene will keep down the levels of blackspot and scab. Wait until November 5th if you need to!
• Keep as many leaves as possible off the pond and watch out for hungry herons who can puncture your pond liner when fishing: fake herons can be effective if you move them every month.
• Tulips can still be planted out in the next few weeks: sometimes they are best displayed in pots and are certainly easier to weed, lift and protect like this.
It may seem as if it is raining the whole time now: in fact, most mornings here have been dry and offer plenty of opportunity to get into the borders: best walk on planks or boards to avoid compressing the soil and wrecking it’s “structure”.
And I’ll ask the brickie if he thinks it’s autumn yet.