It is October, and with it, autumn. Although it can still be quite pleasant outside, you can sense from everything that summer is now well behind us. But does that mean there is nothing left to do in the garden in October? No! There are still quite a few jobs waiting for us. We list them below.
October is ideal for planting bulbs
The time has come: spring-flowering bulbs can go into the ground in October to surprise us again next year with their floral splendor. It still seems a long way off, but if you get started now, you can already enjoy that beauty within a few months. From September until the end of December you can plant flower bulbs. Daffodils, alliums, blue grapes, crocuses and irises can be planted as early as September if you are impatient. With tulips it is better to wait until late October, when the soil cools down and the chance of fungus decreases. This is because tulips are extra sensitive to it. The rule is that you then stick each bulb 3 times as deep as it is tall. This means that you stick tulips and daffodils deeper than, say, crocuses. By the way, 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 giant garden to get something done. We plant a good amount of tulip bulbs in zinc buckets every year starting in late October and it's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. On top of the bulbs we then plant pansies, which continue to bloom throughout the winter. That way soon, during the darkest months of the year, you will have something to cheer you up. In spring, the tulips shoot through easily and bloom like never before. Combined with the pansies, it's a feast to behold. Planting in October does pay off.
Tip for October
Pots filled with 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 and weed growth.
Garden chores in October
Enjoy the dahlias very hard for a while longer, they will continue until the first night frost.
Protect your pond from falling leaves in October, as they can make the water too nutrient-rich, making algae rampant.
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 crop and let the ethylene gas it disperses do its work.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast for the frost-prone plants in your garden. Remove them from 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 have regular green waste to deal with. And it's good for the soil: everyone's happy.
Purchase yourself an electric shredder. This will allow you to crush all branches and other debris and use them as mulch in the borders.
Store the garden hose at the end of October to avoid winter damage.
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In this video, Angelo shows you how to winterize your garden - or not, and what chores you can do in October to help get your garden into winter.
Planting garlic in October
October is also the ideal time to plant garlic, if you want to harvest next June. Purchase yourself organic seedlings and put a clove in the ground every 10 centimeters. A depth of about 10 centimeters is more than enough. Garlic hates heavy clay soil and prefers light, well-drained soil. If you do have extremely wet and heavy soil, make raised vegetable garden beds and fill them with compost, garden soil and sand.
Harvesting in October
If the weather cooperates, you can still harvest zucchini from the garden in October. But pumpkins are also ready by now. Since autumn starts later and later due to climate change, you may still be able to pick tomatoes from the greenhouse. Beets and various leafy crops are also ready for harvest and there are still carrots. A lot of storage apples are ripe and you can take them off the tree with a simple twist. Store them in boxes and make sure they do not interfere with each other, as this will prevent blushing and browning.
Don't clean up your garden in October
A squat garden, at the beginning of autumn in October, is detrimental to a lot of animals. Often, beneficial insects use hollow stems and piles of leaves to hibernate in. If you clean up and trim everything, those animals have nothing at all to seek shelter in during the inclement and dark months. So avoid a squat garden, which is better for everyone. Of course, you can remove fallen leaves from the grass or paths, you can weed if still there, and annuals can go - they turn brown and slimy after the first night frost. By the way, leave ornamental grasses in place, they provide a winter silhouette in the garden and insects will take shelter there as well during the winter months. At the end of winter and the beginning of spring there is still plenty of time for the big cleanup. Starting in October, we share our garden with all kinds of useful creatures.
