Blue Diamond

Things to do this month | October

to do
  • Remove blinds and shade paint from greenhouses so that overwintering plants get as much light as possible.
  • Clean and disinfect greenhouses.
  • Clean and disinfect greenhouses.
  • Tidy up beds and borders, clearing away dead and dying leaves.
  • Rake up fallen leaves and collect them to make leafmould
  • Net ponds to stop leaves falling in.
  • Clear ponds of excess pond weed and blanket weed.
  • Put pots on pot feet to avoid them getting waterlogged in winter.
  • Put up a bird feeder to support your garden birds through the winter months.
  • Take cuttings from deciduous shrubs.
to do 1
  • Prune climbing roses once they have finished flowering.
  • Cut tall bush roses back by a third to avoid windrock.
  • Clear up fallen rose leaves and dispose of them to stop the spread of black spot.
  • Clean garden furniture before you store it away for the winter.
  • Give the barbecue a thorough cleaning before putting it away for the winter.
  • Feed wild birds with high-energy bird foods to help them through the autumn and winter.
  • When water temperatures drop below 21°C (70F), feed fish with easier-to-digest, wheat germ foods.
  • Give tools a thorough clean before you put them away for winter.
  • Slugs and snails may become more active in cooler, damper weather – so protect plants with suitable controls.
  • As perennial weeds start to die back, this is a good time to give them a final application of weedkiller.