Tips for October 2025

Plant Alium, Lilly and Fritiaria bulbs in beds or pots. Bury roughly two or three times their length, pointed end upwards. Space them at least one bulbs width from each other.

Once your rhubarb plants have become dormant they can be  divided as long as they are healthy and vigorous. Dig up established crowns. Chop into decent sized sections from the perimeter of the plant. Discard the centres. Replant with generous amounts of compost or manure.

Cut back Buddleias by about half their height to prevent wind rock over winter,

Plant new trees and shrubs this month, particularly if they are evergreen. The soil is still warm and moist enough to help the plants establish.

Prune established Wisteria and Campsis side shoots to two or three buds. You can also prune older woody growth to reduce the size or weight of the plant.

Remove any remaining larger figs that are unlikely to ripen now leaving only fruits that are pea sized or smaller with frost protection, these may over winter to ripen next summer.

Plant nectar rich spring flowering bulbs such as snowdrop, winter aconite, and crocus to provide food for pollinators.

Fit grease bands or apply barrier glue to fruit tree trunks and stakes by the end of the month to help control winter moth.

Leave mature ivy plants unpruned. The flowers provide a valuable late source of nectar for insects and the berries are food for birds.

Plant evergreen hedges early in the month. Deciduous hedging can be planted throughout winter.