Actions to take in your garden as the temperature drops

Summer is over and autumn leaves turn to gold in the prelude to winter. The nip in the air is a sure sign the temperature is about to drop so action is needed now to ensure your garden is ready for the big freeze. There are plenty of jobs to be done in October from cutting back shrub roses to protecting vulnerable plants and looking after wildlife. Here’s a list of gardening tasks:

1/ Bulbs and winter pots

While the glorious summer displays have gone for another year, there is still an opportunity for some stunning winter colour thanks to the likes of hellebores, cyclamen and winter pansies. Plant these out in your flower beds or containers to produce a rich display over the winter months. You can also plant drifts of bulbs such as crocuses, daffodils and dainty fritillaries which will signal the start of spring next year. Sweet pea seeds can be sown in deep pots for early flowers next summer.

2/ Prune roses and fruit trees

Shrub roses planted in particularly windy or exposed areas should be cut back by a third of their size in mid to late October once the last of the flowers have faded. Apple and pear trees should also be pruned now after the fruit has been harvested along with deciduous hedges. Shrubs normally pruned hard in the spring, such as Buddleia and Lavatera, can be cut back by half now to prevent wind rock and to neaten their appearance. Fruited stems of blackberries and raspberries should be cut to the ground while pumpkins and squash should be raised up on to bricks to keep them dry.

3/ Protect delicate plants

Invest some time in moving tender plants in pots to a sheltered place or cover them with layers such as fleece, hessian or straw to protect them from the harsh winter weather. Keeping the roots dry over the winter will significantly improve plants' chances of survival. Tropical plants – such as bananas, pineapple lilies and the glamourous brugmansias - should be moved inside.

4/ Turn over your compost

It is time to turn over all that lovely compost which you have collected over the spring and summer months. This will make sure the compost breaks down and will be ready to use on your garden when you need it. You will need a fork to do this but remember to look for creatures such as hedgehogs taking refuge in the heap as you go. Mulch, including wood chips, leafmould or compost, can be put on to the soil’s surface to keep it from freezing. 

5/ Clean your greenhouse

Wash and disinfect your greenhouse to make sure it lets in as much daylight as possible. October is also a good time to have a clear out of debris thrown into the greenhouse to make sure it is not harbouring pests and diseases. Line your greenhouse with bubble insulation so your plants will not perish when night temperatures start to fall.

6/ Look after wildlife

As the weather turns, now is the time to put out fresh food and water for birds. A healthy garden ecosystem also needs insects and it is easy to make a simple bug hotel with wood and sticks. Fill gaps with hollow plant stems and pine cones which make a welcome place for insects to hide.

7/ Indoor plants

Indoor plants such as crocuses can brighten any day. Popular Amaryllis bulbs should be planted in pots this month and placed on a warm windowsill and it should produce a display of beautiful blooms in time for Christmas.

For more information or gardening tips, speak to any of our expert team here at Poplar Nurseries.