Jobs to do in October

Flower/Plants

• Lift and pot on tender perennials to store indoors
• Plant spring-flowering bulbs into borders and pots
• Collect up and compost leaves as they begin to fall to make leaf mould
• Plant evergreen shrubs and hedging, or move any that are growing in the wrong place
• Pull up annual climbers and cut back untidy perennial climbers; add to the compost hea[

Fruit/Vegetables

• Sow green manure crops in bare spaces to dig in in the spring
• Pick apples, pears and plums as they ripen
• Sow and plant: broad beans, peas, Japanese and autumn onion sets, spring cabbages and garlic
• Bring potted herbs under cover to protect them
• Lift and store any remaining potatoes in a cool, dry place

Greenhouse

• Pot up rooted cuttings
• Plant pots of hyacinths for flowering in time for Christmas
• Check that heating equipment is working efficiently
• Bring potted azaleas indoors and water with rain water
• Water indoor cyclamen to bring them back into growth after their summer rest

General

• Buy farmyard manure or mushroom compost to dig into the soil during autumn, even better use your own compost 
• Increase the height of the cut on your mower
• Spread netting over water features and ponds to prevent leaves going in
• Order roses to plant out this winter
• Cover newly planted bulbs with wire netting to prevent squirrels digging them up

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