Autumn garden care
October is all about preparing for beautiful and tranquil autumnal months in the garden. Embracing the changing seasons and preparing your garden for the colder months can be a fulfilling experience. There's still an abundance of vibrant colour from cosmos and dahlias, which persists until the arrival of the first frost. Discover a plentiful list of gardening tasks to keep you busy this October.
The cutting garden
Lift and divide perennials
Many herbaceous plants like geraniums and asters will be starting to fade back now. Lifting and dividing overgrown clumps not only keeps your borders looking neat but also rejuvenates tired plants, encouraging stronger growth and more flowers next year. It’s a simple act of renewal and a wonderful way to share plants with friends or spread colour across your garden.
Rework your flower beds
Autumn is the perfect time to rethink your borders. With the structure of the garden laid bare, it’s easier to see what thrived and what faltered over summer. Consider moving plants that didn’t quite thrive, refreshing the soil with compost, and planning new combinations that will bring balance and seasonal rhythm to your planting scheme.
Add biennials and bulbs for next year
Sow or plant biennials such as foxgloves and sweet williams now, so they have time to establish before the cold weather. October is also your last call for bulb planting, tuck in tulips, daffodils, and alliums to ensure a spectacular display next year.
Vegetable garden: harvest, prepare and plan ahead
Harvest root crops and late vegetables
Root crops such as carrots, parsnips, and beetroots should be carefully lifted before the first hard frosts and stored in sand or a cool, dark place for winter use. Brassicas like cabbage, kale, and sprouts can continue to provide crisp, nutritious leaves, while any late tomatoes and peppers should be picked and brought indoors to ripen in a late autumn sunny window.
Clear and enrich your beds
Remove spent crops, particularly those affected by disease, to prevent pests from overwintering. Enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted manure, giving next year’s vegetables a nutrient-rich start. Cover bare soil with mulch, cloches, or green manure crops such as mustard or clover to protect and rejuvenate it through the colder months.
Plant winter crops and early spring vegetables
October is ideal for planting garlic, shallots, onion sets, and broad beans, all of which will establish strong roots before the cold sets in. Hardy salad leaves such as rocket, winter lettuce, and spinach can be sown under cloches or cold frames, providing a steady supply of fresh leaves throughout the season.
Tidy, label and plan for next year
Take time to tidy paths, label beds, and review your crops for next year. Protect tender crops with fleece where necessary, and make notes for next year’s planting. Even from the comfort of an armchair, sketch out your vegetable plans and dream of the abundance to come.
General garden maintenance
Leave a little wildness
While it’s tempting to clear everything away, a little messiness is good for wildlife and biodiversity. Leave seed heads on perennials like echinacea and teasel for birds to enjoy, and create piles of leaves or sticks in a quiet corner to give hedgehogs and insects somewhere to shelter.
Plan next year’s planting
October is the perfect time to sketch out your garden plans for spring. Consider new plant combinations, note which perennials need moving, and research varieties that will extend your garden’s flowering season. Get organised by ordering spring-flowering bulbs now for planting this autumn.
Order bulbs and seeds
If you’ve not yet finished your bulb planting, now’s the time to make those last-minute orders. Many suppliers offer end-of-season deals perfect for topping up on tulips, daffodils, and alliums. Ensure to also stock up on seeds for early sowing come February.
Explore our expert online gardening courses to learn more top tips and advice on maximising your garden during every season of the year.
