Tips October 2024.

Create a wildflower area in an existing lawn early in October. Rake then sow Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus Minor) to suppress grass growth next year.

Plant garlic cloves 15cm apart with the pointed tips facing upwards 2.5cm below soil surface in free draining soil leave 30cm between rows.

Prune tall growing shrubs that are hard pruned in spring, such as Lavatera and Buddleia by half to prevent wind rock.

Leave mature ivy plants unpruned. The flowers provide a valuable late source of nectar for insects an berries are food for many birds who visit gardens.

Get a head start by sowing sweet peas in 9cm pots now and overwintering them in a cold greenhouse or cold frame. They will flower early next spring than spring sown seeds.

When peas and beans finish cropping, cut them down to ground level, leaving the roots to break down naturally in the soil.

Once Cannas and Dahlias have been damaged by frost, cut back and dig up plants to store in a cool dark but frost free place.

Apply barrier glue or grease bands to apple and pear trees plus stakes to prevent wingless female winter moths crawling into to trees to lay eggs.

Move citrus plants under cover well before frost arrive. Reduce watering, keeping the compost on the dry side over autumn and winter. Keep in a greenhouse or conservatory with a minimum night temperature of 10 deg. C.

You can plant hardy spring bedding plants such as wallflowers, pansies, polyanthus and sweet williams now into prepared beds or containers. Firm plants well into the soil.