Peter’s Gardening tips for Early October

Some can be cut to the ground, hostas, day lilies,geraniums, phlox, any plants that won’t give you winter structure and interest . Leave some old flower stems for winter interest. Frost, dew and cobwebs look utterly amazing first thing in the morning.  Grasses come into their own now. Take pictures of the garden now before it all dies down, plan next year.

Primroses

• Use a rotary mower to hoover up the leaves, this chops them up thereby speeding up composting.
• Raise the deck of your mower. Not good now to cut the grass short.
• Aerate your lawn, last month the ground was too dry. Hire a machine for large lawns, use a fork for small areas.
• Treat lawns with an Autumn Lawn Feed and mosskiller.
• Sow grass seed for a new lawn or patching up. Look at last month’s article for more info.
• Check all ties on trees,shrubs and climbers. Slacken off if too tight, replace or add extra to support. Cut off excessive growth if acting like a sail.
• Anticipate the gales, secure and fasten fences,trellis with plants attached.
• Check gutters, downpipes, drains and gullies. Clear out debris.
• Look at the roofs of sheds for signs of damage to the roofing felt.
• Continue to harvest Apples and Pears.
• Examine stored fruit and vegetables. Remove any diseased or damaged pieces.
• Bring in tender plants- Orchids,house plants ,citrus. Lift dahlias, cannas and any pelargoniums or summer bedding plants before severe frosts.
• Remove shading on greenhouses. Max light now.
• Insulate your greenhouse and clean.
• Apply fruit tree grease around the trunk of fruit trees to prevent winter moth.
• Garlic and autumn onion sets need planting this month available at all garden centres.