It's October, and with it, autumn. Although it can still be quite pleasant outside, you can feel that summer is now well behind us. But does that mean there's nothing left to do in the garden in October ? No! There are still quite a few chores waiting for us. We'll list them below.
October is ideal for planting flower bulbs
It's that time again: spring-flowering bulbs can be planted in October to surprise us again next year with their beautiful flowers. It may seem far away, but if you get started now, you can enjoy that beauty within a few months. You can plant flower bulbs from September to the end of December . Daffodils, alliums, grape hyacinths, crocuses and irises can be planted in September if you are impatient. With tulips, it is better to wait until the end of October, when the soil cools down and the chance of mold decreases. Tulips are particularly sensitive to it. The rule is that you plant each bulb 3 times as deep as it is large. That means that you plant tulips and daffodils deeper than, say, crocuses. Did you know that you can also plant flower bulbs in a pot or zinc tub/bucket? So you don't always have to have a gigantic garden to get something done. Every year we plant a large quantity of tulip bulbs in zinc buckets from the end of October and that is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen. On top of the bulbs we then plant pansies , which continue to bloom all winter long. This way you will have something to be cheerful about during the darkest months of the year. In the spring the tulips easily shoot through and bloom like never before. In combination with the pansies it is a feast to look at. Planting in October is definitely worth it.
Tip for October
Pots filled with flower bulbs in October? Then cover the soil with a layer of bark. This not only looks neat, but also provides a natural ground cover that prevents drying out and weed growth.
Garden chores in October
Enjoy your dahlias for a while longer, they will continue to bloom until the first frost.
Protect your pond from falling leaves in October, as they can make the water too nutritious, causing algae to thrive.
Pick tomatoes while the sun is shining. If the fruits remain green, often due to bad weather in October, you can remove them from the plant and let them ripen indoors. Place a banana or apple near the harvest and let the ethylene gas it spreads do its work.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast for the frost-sensitive plants in your garden. Take them out of the ground, put them in pots and store them frost-free by the end of October.
Clean nest boxes in October. They not only serve as nesting sites in spring, but also provide shelter from inclement weather in winter.
Make compost bins from pallets in October. Having your own place to make compost is great if you regularly have to process green waste. And it's good for the soil: everyone is happy.
Get yourself an electric chopper. You can grind all branches and other waste and use it as mulch in the borders.
Put away the garden hose at the end of October to prevent winter damage.
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In this video, Angelo shows you how to prepare your garden for winter - or not - and what chores you can do in October to help your garden get through the winter.
Planting garlic in October
October is also the ideal time to plant garlic, if you want to harvest in June next year. Buy organic seed potatoes and plant a clove every 10 centimetres in the ground. A depth of about 10 centimetres is more than sufficient. Garlic hates heavy clay soil and prefers a light, well-drained soil. If you do have extremely wet and heavy soil, create raised beds and fill them with compost, garden soil and sand.
Harvesting in October
If the weather is good, you can still harvest courgettes from the garden in October. But the pumpkins are also ready by now. Because autumn is starting later and later due to climate change, it is quite possible that you can still pick tomatoes from the greenhouse. Beets and various leafy vegetables are also ready to harvest and there are still carrots. Many storage apples are ripe and can be removed from the tree with a simple twisting movement. Store them in boxes and make sure that they do not hinder each other, because that prevents dents and brown spots.
