October Gardening Jobs

As autumn draws in on the garden, the days shorten, and the garden begins to wind down. October is still a very busy time of the year preparing for spring as well as carrying out a range of general tasks and garden maintenance. What you do now will determine your success in spring. Keep up with your garden with our October gardening jobs checklist!

The following are the main garden jobs in October:

Cut back perennials once the foliage has died down and add to compost heap. Remember to not put woody material on the compost heap unless they are put through a garden shredder.
Lift and divide poor flowering or overcrowded perennial plants
Lift and store tender bulbs, corms and tubers once foliage has died down such as dahlias, tuberous begonias etc.

Continue to plant winter and spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, crocus in borders or patio containers.
Plant wallflowers, sweet williams, violas, cyclamen and other spring bedding plants in borders or patio containers.
Late autumn is a great time to plant shrubs and perennials for plants to “settle in” before the new season.
Reduce the frequency of mowing. Clear piles of dead leaves from the lawn to stop the grass turning yellow. If you haven't done so already, invest in a garden rake or leaf blower to help you with the clean up of leaves as they continue to fall.

A piles of Autumn leaves rests in the grass next to a wheelbarrow and rake in a residential backyard.

A good time to scarify established lawns and spike the surface with fork or lawn aerator to help drainage.
It's important to look after your lawn all year round. Apply an autumn lawn care to protect your lawn from the harsh winter weather and give it a good start next spring.

Now is the perfect time to clean any built up algae and moss from your driveway or footpath. This will make sure your driveway looks superb for your next family gathering!
Don't forget to look after our feathered friends. Add bird feeders, bird tables and bird baths around your garden to keep the birds around long into the colder months. Remember to keep the water topped up too!