October

October typically has some mild weather as well as the first real signs of winter. Don't be fooled by the occasional warm spell, these can be followed quickly by frost, particularly under clear skies.

Top Tip:
Good compost is a great aid to any gardener but avoid including disease infect plant in your heap. In many cases plant disease will thrive well within the compost (unless temperatures reach very high or very low levels) and in due course you risk spreading the disease when you apply the composted material around your beds.

Lawns:
Aerate compacted lawns to allow greater penetration of feed and top dressing
Continue to cut your lawn all the time it is still growing

Remove of all the thatch (grass, moss etc) rubbish with a really good raking

Feed the lawn with appropriate fertiliser

Never use weed and moss killer on a camomile lawn unless the product is specifically designed for that purpose

Perennials, annuals and bulbs:
Lift gladioli corms, dahlia roots and border chrysants for winter storage

Plant up cuttings of hardy annuals.

Plant bulbs to ensure the best possible root structure for the spring

Herbs:
Prune and cut back your thyme, parsley and sage as young growth stand the winter best
Make up small pots of herbs (parsley, chives, sage, and thyme in particular) and bring them into the house or greenhouse to protect them from the winter and extend their growing season

Fruit & Vegetables:
Cut down asparagus and globe artichoke to ground level, cover over with a thin layer (soil for the asparagus and peat/manure for the artichoke)

Potatoes, beetroot and carrots should all now be lifted and if you have enough to make it worth while stored appropriately