Garden Diary

October Garden Notes

The autumn clear-up begins as cool nights and more rain encourage die back of summer flowers and the leaves of trees begin to display their brilliant final colours before leaf-fall. There are new seeds, sets and plants to position in the vegetable garden and more bulbs and bedding to plant in your flower borders. This can be one of the busiest times of the year for gardeners, but very rewarding.

Beds and Borders . . .

It’s time to cut back the stems of flowering perennial plants that come back each year. Cut back stems leaving 5cm (2in) above ground level so you know where the plant is situated and you can avoid digging it.

Many roses will produce flowers until Christmas if they are kept tidy and new clean foliage is encouraged. Continue to dead-head all the flower heads by either snapping off the head about 2cm (1in) below the flower head or snipping off the complete flower truss using secateurs.

Woody weeds including brambles, nettles and docks can still be treated with a Tough & Deep Root Weedkiller to kill off the weed stems, foliage and roots.

Patio Tubs & Baskets…

All clay pots are subject to damage from frosts as the winter weather will encourage water to freeze and thaw regularly. To minimise any potential damage you can wrap your containers in bubble wrap material and place each pot on terracotta feet to lift the pots off the surface and improve drainage.

Lawncare…

Autumn is a busy time in the lawncare calendar, it’s not too late to rake through your lawn to remove thatch that develops. This raking, or more correctly scarifying, will help remove thatch and much of the moss that has become a fixture in your turf.

Let your lawn breath this autumn by aeration. This improves drainage which discourages moss.  At Greener Gardens we use specialist machines to relieve compaction, allowing water and nutrients to pass into the root zone.

If your lawn hasn’t been fed since summer an Autumn feed will help sort out any moss that has become established, but will also provide all the nutrients to harden off growth so your lawn is prepared for all the weather winter can throw at it.

For help with your lawn, Greener Gardens are your only local independent BASIS Lawn Assured lawncare specialist. The scheme helps ensure a consistent and high standard of practice in the professional lawn care sector.

Grow your Own…

Harvest all outdoor tomatoes, even if they are green and hang the trusses in a shed, porch or well-lit spare room. They will continue to ripen or if you start to get desperate you can always make green tomato chutney for winter salads.

Pick any apples or pears that are ripe and either eat immediately or store in a cool, dark frost-free place. Any fruits that carry a blemish need to be eaten immediately, as these will not store well.

Pruning soft fruit including gooseberry and blackcurrant bushes should be completed now.

like help with any lawn or hard surface projects, don’t hesitate to call Greener Gardens on 0115 837 8439. We would be delighted to provide a no obligation quotation.