Gardening tips: Alan Titchmarsh shares how to seed lawns
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Despite the wet windy weather, there’s still a lot to do in the garden in October in order to get it ready for the winter months. The experts at Homebase have shared a list of things gardeners can do in their gardens in October.
1. Trim hedges
The gardening experts said hedges need to be trimmed “before the weather turns”.
Hedges can be trimmed in late spring, early autumn or in winter when they’re completely dormant.
Gardeners need to make sure they prune hedges before the first frost and on a cloudy day where there’s no sun.
2. Mow lawns
October is the month to “give your lawn a last cut before leaving it for the winter”.
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Grass growth will start to slow at this time of year which is why it’s typically the last month of regular mowing.
3. Keep harvesting root vegetables
Gardeners should continue to harvest root vegetables and fruits which includes apples, carrots, tomatoes, beetroot and pumpkins.
The experts added: “Prune back cane of autumn-flowering blackberries and raspberries after harvesting.”
4. Plant borders
Now is the perfect time to plant out borders with tulips and other spring-flowering bulbs.
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Spring bulbs and numbers can be planted from September to December before the coldest weather hits.
These can either be planted into pots or straight into borders, depending on personal preference. Most bulbs should be planted at three times their depth.
Crocuses, daffodils, tulips, Lily of the Valley, hyacinth and alliums are just some plants that can be planted now ready for a spring display.
5. Pot up tender perennials
Gardeners should be thinking about protecting certain plants from October as the weather becomes cooler.
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Tender perennials need to be potted up and put under cover for “winter protection”.
Tender perennials include verbena, begonias, bidens, dahlias, gazanias and argyranthemums.
6. Pick green tomatoes
The experts said: “Any green tomatoes can be picked and brought in to ripen.”
One of the best ways to ripen green tomatoes is to put them in a paper bag with a banana.
Bananas release ethylene gas which is a plant hormone that ripens and causes fruit to soften.
7. Plant crops
October is a good time to plant autumn garlic and onion sets for the next year.
Onion sets should be ready for June and garlic will be ready from June to August.
8. Collect fallen leaves
Dead leaves can be used to make leaf mould but can also be used to make mulch and compost and insulate sheds.
Leaving dead leaves on lawns can also help them grow, especially if they’re mowed over first.
9. Rhubarb
Divide large, congested clumps of rhubarb. The surplus clumps will thrive in a mixed border.
If you don’t have any think about adding some for next year as this sits really happily in a mixed border.
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