October in the garden – clocks go back end of the month and this reduces the time we have in the garden so now is the time to get those jobs done especially while the temperatures are a little higher than normal. An ideal job would be the lawn. As the mowing season is drawing to a close adjust the height of cut raising it by 1″ which will give the grass time to build up strength for the cold weather. You can also rake or scarify the lawn to get rid of moss and old dead grass. If the dead grass is allowed to remain it will affect the lawn next year and quickly allow a thatch to form and prevent rain from reaching the roots. Spiking is another job that should be done this time of the year – a garden fork will do but it can be hard work. I tend to do a bit each day, weather permitting. Moss on the lawn can be an indication that something is wrong and this can be down to poor drainage, compaction, or mowing the lawn to0 close. You can treat this yourself with moss killers but I contacted the Green Thumb lawn service and for £15 every 3 months they apply fertilizer, moss killer and weed killer – hence no moss or weeds for me – all I do is mow and rake – its well worth the £15 .
Here are some jobs you should be doing: Plant bulbs for spring. I love them in pots then you can move them around and create different displays. Lift Dahlia tubers or keep them in the ground and cover with a mound of mulch. I normally lift mine, turn them upside down to dry and then place in a box with dry peat and put them somewhere in the garage or greenhouse, in a dark place .
As some of you know I have a large collection of bananas, some which are in pots and some in the ground. I have usually moved them by now and placed in the garage but the hot summer and mild Autumn has kept them growing. Looking in the garden this morning I thought I was in a far away rain forest and felt sad at the thought I would soon have to start wrapping them in fleece and packing them away until March .
Any questions please phone me anytime . Norman Conway