Looking Good in October

UK Weather in October

It’s starting to feel much cooler now and we can expect maximum daytime temperatures of around 13 ̊C. At night the temperature falls slowly reaching just 5 or 6 ̊C by dawn.
Here is Lancashire usually have our first frosts at the beginning of October and all parts of the UK can expect at least a couple of frosty days this month. Days are much shorter and even on clear sunny days the sun sets early. We can expect just 90 hours on sunshine this month which is less than half the sunshine we see in July.
Low pressure weather systems bring plenty of rain showers and occasionally heavy downpours. On average there are 15 days in October with some rainfall. Occasionally blasts of Arctic air reduce temperatures and send snow falls to the high ground in Scotland and the north east.

October in the Garden.

October is great for planting container grown trees and shrubs, biennials and perennials. Bare root plants are usually available to buy now in plant nurseries and good garden centres. As long as the ground is not frozen it should be easy to work and your new plants will have several months to establish a good root system before they burst into full leaf and flower next spring.

Growing:

• Harvest fruit and vegetables.
• Collect and save seed as it becomes ripe. Leave some seed heads on for winter.
• Take hardwood cuttings of deciduous shrubs such as buddleja, cornus and roses.
• Dig over empty areas and plant trees, shrubs and perennials.
• Plant new evergreen hedges. Trim established evergreen hedges.

In the greenhouse:

• Sow the seeds of hardy annuals such as Sweet Peas for early flowering next year. Save half the seeds for sowing in spring.
• Pot up some herbs such as parsley for use in your kitchen over winter.
• Lift tender plants and keep them in a frost free greenhouse over winter.
• Plant spring flowering bulbs such as alliums, lily and tulip bulbs.

Wildlife:

• Leave some seed heads on your more sturdy plants throughout autumn and winter to provide seeds for wild birds.
• Leave some leaves and twigs in a quiet dry place such as under a hedge to provide shelter for hedgehogs and other small mammals.

Click this link to see more articles GARDENING IN OCTOBER  

What's happening in your garden this month?  Happy Gardening.