Our grounds team have a wealth of knowledge derived from their experience of providing grounds maintenance and landscaping services. We share their October gardening tips here.
by Jeremy Mather
The weather has been very changeable recently, which is pretty normal for spring in this part of the world. We can get some lovely warm days, then a cold, wet and windy one, and maybe even a frost! I think we are probably past the frosts now though. We have had a terrible time with the recent winds and even substantial rainfall through September. I know that my place is very wet, and I have had some tree damage also. I look forward to a return to a few more stable days in the coming month as the season change settles down. Having said all that – it is time to get out and about to catch up on spring jobs, but also to enjoy the fruits of your winter labours.
October Gardening Tips:
- Continue to be vigilant with monitoring for pest and disease on your roses. The cool damp conditions can still allow fungal issues to surface, particularly if there are still some issues with the general health of your plants. If you do not want to use chemical products to control aphis, try some of the many homemade solutions, such as chilli, garlic, a bit of vegetable oil, or a touch of detergent in a spray bottle. Mind you don’t get it in your eyes though! You can even squash them in your fingers or even just hose them off regularly. Give roses a good feed now as they love this and are beginning to really grow.
- October is a good time to enjoy citrus fruits, which should be ripening now.
- Give most things a good feed – try to use specific fertilisers if you can, or if not, a general organic pelletised one is good. If you have potted plants, ideally you should use a liquid especially for pots.
- Now is the time to plant cucumbers, beans and peas. Keep the snail protection up as snails are everywhere at the moment and will quickly destroy a valuable seedling.
Previous months:
September Gardening Tips
August Gardening Tips,
July Gardening Tips
