The October Garden

Autumn colours are really at their finest in October, and there isn't much time to appreciate them before the leaves start to fall. There are jobs to be done in the garden before Winter arrives, here are just a few :

• Dig over any empty areas of soil  
• Plant climbers and perennials, lily and tulip bulbs
• Finish planting any spring bedding 
• Prepare the ground for bare root plants such as peonies
• Cut back perennials that have finished flowering, making the garden look tidier and discouraging disease to attack old growth
• Gather in any remaining fruits like pears and apples before the frosts appear 

Many evergreen shrubs will provide colour and interest all year round. Variegated shrubs in particular will brighten up any part of the garden, along with plants such as cyclamen and heathers. 

Its also a great time to plant new herbaceous perrenials, as the soil is still warm and moist. Perennials look at their best when they are planted in groups of three or more, but if your budget is limited, buy one of each of the varieties you want and then propagate them yourself. This way you can build up the numbers over 2 or 3 years.