Things to do in the garden in October

Autumn is the traditional time of year to tidy the garden before the onset of winter but there are still plenty of fun things to be getting on with too.

Lots of people think that the growing season ends after harvest, so we wanted to show you that you can enjoy your gardens throughout the autumn and on into winter with some choice planting activities: 

• It’s the time of year when you can plant bulbs in readiness to get beautiful colours in the spring. Pick a tub, get some compost to fill it with and come and choose your bulbs.
• During the autumn there are spectacular colours and fabulous foliage all around us and it’s a good time to plant shrubs so you’ll have some of these hues and textures in your garden next year – consider going for beautiful acers that produce startling scarlet leaves in autumn, to winter heathers and conifers, which provide wonderful colours well into the winter.
• By now the summer hanging baskets and tubs have passed their best, but with our milder autumns and winters you can still have a good show. Plants such as ivy, winter pansies, golden conifers, heather and herbs flourish during autumn and winter.
• Baby cabbage and cauliflower are ideal for planting at this time of year, as they will reach maturity by early winter. Great for winter dishes.
• Planting soft fruits like strawberries, raspberries and blackcurrants now will pay dividends into 2017, when you’ll be able to enjoy eating everything you’ve grown.
• Apples, pears and plums will all take a little longer to grow, but these plants will still yield fantastic results if planted now.