Garden chores in October: 5 essential tasks to get your garden ready for winter
October is the ultimate transitional month in the garden. Temperatures are dropping, the leaves are changing colour and nature is slowly preparing for its dormant period. But there’s no time to sit still just yet. For anyone who wants to enjoy a healthy, green and flowering garden next spring, now is the time to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in.
What gardening tasks should you do in October? In October, the focus is entirely on getting your garden ready for winter. The most important tasks on this month’s gardening calendar are:
- Raking leaves off the lawn and removing them from the pond.
- Applying a potassium-rich autumn fertiliser to the lawn.
- Planting spring bulbs (such as tulips and daffodils).
- Give hedges a final trim.
- Move frost-sensitive container plants indoors or wrap them up.
1. Protecting your lawn from the cold
The grass grows much more slowly in October. Nevertheless, your lawn now requires specific care to prevent moss, bare patches and fungi during the winter.
- Carry on mowing, but not too short: As long as the grass is growing and it isn’t too wet, you can carry on mowing. Do set your lawnmower a notch higher (around 5 cm). This ensures the blades of grass still get enough sunlight.
- Apply an autumn fertiliser: From now on, stop using nitrogen-rich fertiliser. Nitrogen stimulates young leaf growth, which is quickly damaged by frost. Instead, opt for a special autumn fertiliser for the lawn with extra potassium. Potassium strengthens the cell walls and makes your lawn extremely resilient to frost and foot traffic.
- Keep the lawn free of leaves: Never leave fallen leaves lying in a thick layer on the grass. They suffocate the turf, block out light and create the ideal damp environment for fungi.
2. Planting spring-flowering plants and bulbs
October is the ideal month for planting. The soil is still relatively warm from late summer and is often moist enough. This gives the roots the chance to establish themselves firmly in the soil before winter.
This makes it the perfect time to plant spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, crocuses and grape hyacinths.
Rule of thumb for flower bulbs: Always plant a flower bulb three times as deep as it is tall. So, a bulb 3 centimetres tall should be planted in a hole 9 centimetres deep. Plant the bulbs in clusters; this creates a much more natural and fuller effect in spring than neat rows.
Discover our autumn flower bulbs
3. Pruning in October: what should you do and what should you avoid?
Not every plant should be pruned in the autumn. If you prune too much or too late, you risk causing unnecessary frost damage.
What should you prune?
- Hedges: Give your hedges (such as yew, beech or privet) a final light trim. This will ensure they look neat as they head into autumn.
- Weeping trees: Trees such as birch, walnut and maple have a very strong sap flow in spring. If you prune them then, they can bleed to death. October, however, is a safe month to trim them.
- Roses: You can cut away spent flowers, but it’s best to save the proper, vigorous pruning until spring. What should you avoid pruning?
What should you avoid pruning?
Leave the stems of perennials and ornamental grasses as they are. Do not cut them right back to the ground. They form a natural insulating layer against the frost. What’s more, the seed heads are full of winter food for garden birds, and hollow plant stems provide a perfect hiding place for beneficial insects.
All you need to know about pruning in autumn⏩
4. Preparing sensitive plants for night frost
By the end of October, the likelihood of the first night frost increases significantly. It’s time to take action to protect your most vulnerable patio and container plants.
- Move non-hardy plants (such as fuchsias, oleanders and citrus trees) to a bright, frost-free spot. A conservatory, veranda or unheated bedroom is ideal.
- Plants that need to overwinter outdoors in pots (such as olive trees) should be placed close to the wall, out of the biting east wind.
- In the event of persistent frost, use a breathable winter cover (non-woven fabric). Never wrap your plants in thick plastic sheeting, as this causes condensation and rot.
Read more about protecting plants from cold ❄️
5. Reusing autumn leaves cleverly (mulching)
Don’t just throw all the fallen leaves into the organic waste bin. Whilst leaves can be harmful on the lawn or in your pond, they are the very ‘brown gold’ your garden needs when placed amongst your plant borders. Rake the leaves amongst your perennials and shrubs. This natural layer of mulch has a host of benefits:
- It insulates and protects plant roots from severe frost.
- It suppresses weed growth.
- It slowly decomposes into nutritious compost, which stimulates soil life (such as earthworms).
- It provides a safe and warm hibernation spot for hedgehogs.
Tip: Leave that noisy leaf blower in the garden shed. A wide leaf rake works efficiently, doesn’t blow away beneficial insects and is much more pleasant for the peace and quiet of your garden.
All you need to know about mulch
Frequently asked questions about the garden in October
Can I still scarify the lawn in October?
Yes, but only in the first half of October when the weather is still mild and the soil isn’t too cold. Do make sure to apply an autumn fertiliser straight afterwards. If you scarify too late, the grass won’t have time to recover before the frost sets in.
Can I still sow grass in October?
Early October is often still a very good time to sow bare patches, provided the soil temperature doesn’t drop below 10°C. Colder nights will stop the grass seeds from germinating.
What should I do with rotting fruit in the garden?
Regularly clear away fallen fruit, such as apples or pears with rotten patches. They can attract wasps and spread fungal diseases to healthy trees. You can, however, leave undamaged windfalls in a quiet corner; blackbirds and thrushes love them in winter.
Ready for autumn? Proper preparation in autumn means twice as much enjoyment in the garden come spring! At Hermie, you’ll find everything you need to help your garden get through the colder months successfully. From high-quality autumn fertilisers to the best frost protection.
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