Monthly & Seasonal Tips
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29 September 2022
October Gardening Jobs
October is here and it is the time to get outdoor spaces tidy and 'put to bed' in time for the harsh temperatures to come. Explore our recommendations here.
October is the ideal month to get gardens and landscapes ready for the colder months ahead. While there may be slightly fewer jobs compared to summer, there are still plenty of important maintenance tasks to complete now that will protect your garden through winter and set it up for success in spring.
From cleaning hard surfaces and feeding lawns to planting bulbs, pruning shrubs, protecting fruit and vegetables, and general garden maintenance, October is all about preparation. Please remember that these are general guidelines, and certain tasks should be avoided during weather extremes such as heavy rain, frost, or sudden temperature drops.
Monthly Gardening Checklist: Where to Begin
If you’re unsure where to start, sowing and growing should be the first thing to tick off your October gardening checklist. As warm summer days give way to crisp autumn air, the changing seasons bring fresh opportunities to add colour, structure, and resilience to your garden.
Sowing, Growing and Planting in October
October is a great time to plant and prepare a wide range of plants that thrive in cooler conditions:
- Spring bulbs such as daffodils and crocuses, including planting directly into lawns
- Sweet peas, ideally overwintered in a cold frame
- Perennials and biennials
- Winter pansies
- Clematis, valued for their spring fragrance
- Evergreen shrubs and hedges, which establish well in warm autumn soil
Plant and Border Maintenance - Trim back overgrown perennials to restore shape and promote healthy regrowth
- Cut back herbaceous plants as foliage browns to prevent disease
- Tender perennials should be lifted or potted and protected from frost
- Collect seeds from hardy perennials
- Reduce the height of shrub roses to minimise windrock damage
- Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs and ornamental trees
- Carry out the last weed control of the year using a total weed killer
Hard Surface Cleaning and Garden Hygiene
As leaves begin to fall and damp conditions increase, keeping hard surfaces clean is essential for appearance and safety. Regular cleaning prevents biofilm build-up, algae growth, and slip hazards on patios, paths, driveways, roofs, and sports surfaces.
Recommended hard surface cleaning solutions include:
- AlgoClear Pro – a powerful, bleach-free biocide suitable for large professional areas
- MMC Pro – a multi-purpose disinfectant, fungicide, algaecide, and detergent suitable for year-round use
- Mossoff Chemical-Free Multi Surface Treatment – an organic, non-chemical option safe for children and pets
- Mac Hi-Power Hard Surface Cleaners, including Mac Eco-Power, a fast-acting plant-based biocide
Clearing fallen leaves regularly also helps prevent moss growth and disease.
Lawn Care and Turfed Areas in October
October is one of the most important months for lawn care, helping grass survive winter and recover quickly in spring.
Essential Lawn Tasks
- Mow less frequently and raise the cutting height to around 40mm
- Clear fallen leaves, twigs, and petals regularly
- Aerate compacted areas using a garden fork to prevent waterlogging
- Rake out thatch to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the soil
- Overseed bare patches or sow new lawns early in the month, checking the 2-week weather forecast
Fertilising and Feeding
Apply an autumn/winter fertiliser to strengthen roots and protect against frost and fungal disease
- Amvista G9 – a popular low-nitrogen autumn/winter feed
- A1 Lawn Ultimate Autumn Winter Lawn Fertiliser – trusted for winter protection
- For lawns needing recovery after summer, apply A1 Lawn Double Strength Feed, Weed & Moss Killer
- When laying turf or sowing from scratch, use New Grass Pre-Seed and Pre-Turf Fertiliser
- For cold conditions, Cool Start Grass Seed germinates in temperatures as low as 5°C
Available grass seed options include:
Fruit and Vegetable Patches
Prepare your fruit and vegetable garden for winter by clearing, protecting, and harvesting crops.
Soil and Plant Care
- Remove older crops to prevent pests and disease
- Cover soil with green manure such as winter rye to suppress weeds and enrich soil
- Take cuttings from shrubby herbs like rosemary
- Decongest rhubarb by splitting crowns
- Leave cabbage roots in the ground and cut stems to encourage smaller leaf growth
Harvesting and Protection
- Harvest apples, carrots, tomatoes, beetroots, pumpkins, squash, peas, runner beans, and French beans
- Cut bean plants to ground level, leaving roots to regrow
- Expose pumpkins and squash to sunlight and lift onto bricks to prevent rot
- Remove larger figs to allow smaller fruits to develop for next season
- Move tomato and pepper plants indoors to ripen
- Plant garlic cloves – autumn is ideal
Pest and Frost Protection
- Protect fruit trees (apple, pear, plum) from winter moth caterpillars using grease bands or winter wash
- Move citrus trees (lemon, orange) indoors and reduce watering without drying out
- Move olive trees indoors or protect with horticultural fleece if temperatures drop below freezing
Frequently Asked Questions
Is October a good time to plant perennials?
Yes. Perennials establish best when soil is moist, making September–October and March–May ideal planting times.
What fruit and vegetables can be harvested in October?
Apples, carrots, tomatoes, beetroots, pumpkins, squash, peas, runner beans, and French beans.
Can wildflowers be sown in October?
Yes. Many wildflower seeds benefit from frost exposure and will flower earlier in spring when sown in autumn.
Looking Ahead
By tackling these October gardening jobs, you’ll protect your garden through winter while laying the groundwork for healthy growth in spring and summer. If you’re planning ahead, be sure to check out our November Gardening Jobs guide to stay one step ahead.
If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact the team at ProGreen. We offer a full range of garden care and professional maintenance products to help keep your garden in top condition all year round.
