The autumn leaves are falling and winter is closing in, which means it’s time to tidy up the garden, plant bulbs, perennials and shrubs for next year and enjoy pumpkin season!
October feels like a month of slowing down. After months of trying (and sometimes failing) to keep up with harvesting, watering, deadheading, planting, mowing and all the other jobs a garden demands over summer, it’s nice to take a breather and relax.
Of course, the hard work isn’t quite over yet. There are still pumpkins to harvest, tubers to lift before the first frosts, perennials to plant and other jobs to do to get your garden ready for winter. Autumn can also be a good time to carry out landscaping works, as long as it’s not too wet, as you can prepare beds for the winter and plant perennials and bulbs before the ground gets too cold.
The weather in October can be very variable, so keep an eye on the forecast, particularly for high winds, heavy rain and the first frosts. By getting ahead at the start of the month, you’ll be prepared for whatever the British weather can throw at you.
Flowers, shrubs & trees
Fuchsias, agastaches, heleniums, achilleas and salvias are still going strong this month. Discover more October plants to brighten your garden in this month's flowers guide.
What to plant in October
October is one of the best months for planting in most parts of the country. The soil is still warm, and in most years, it’s wet enough that you don’t need to worry about watering your plants. Spring bulbs, herbaceous perennials, trees and shrubs can all go in the ground this month. Be wary of early frosts and prolonged periods of rain – it’s best to avoid planting in waterlogged soil.
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Plant winter pansies and violas to brighten up borders, pots and hanging baskets.
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Layer spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, muscari and crocuses in a pot for a long-lasting display from late winter through to early summer.
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You want to plant narcissus bulbs while the soil is still warm, so get them in the ground as soon as possible. Find out more about how to grow daffodils in our detailed guide.
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Plant herbaceous perennials while the ground is still warm and moist.
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Autumn is also a good time to dig up and move plants. If something isn’t flourishing or you think it would look better in a different spot, move it early in the month, so it has time to settle into its new home.
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Trees and shrubs are best planted between late October and April. While you can plant container-grown shrubs at any time of year, October is ideal as they need less watering than if you plant them in spring or summer.
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Sow sweet peas this month to get flowers earlier next spring. Sowing sweet peas now gives the plants longer to develop a strong root system, meaning they’ll be healthier and better able to resist dry spring conditions when they’re planted out.
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You can plant certain varieties of hyacinth, narcissus and amaryllis this month to force them for Christmas flowers.
Propagating and dividing
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If you didn’t get around to lifting and dividing perennial plants last month, do it now before the weather turns too cold. Read our full guide to dividing perennials for advice on dividing common plants.
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Hardwood cuttings are best taken just after leaf fall. You can take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs, such as buddleias, dogwood and roses, climbing plants like honeysuckle and jasmine and fruit bushes.
Harvesting, pruning and cutting back
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Cut back perennials that have finished flowering. Some plants have attractive seedheads that are worth leaving in place over winter – sea holly (Eryngium), Angelica gigas, agastache, echinacea and hydrangeas are some of my favorites for ornamental interest and wildlife.
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Remove bedding plants and annuals that have finished flowering and add them to your compost bin.
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Prune or tie in long shoots on climbing roses to prevent storm damage. You’ll carry out the main pruning early next year, but it’s okay to cut off whippy shoots, plus any damaged or diseased branches now.
General maintenance
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In most parts of the UK, October brings the first frosts. Tender plants are best moved into a conservatory or frost-free greenhouse for the winter. If that’s not an option, you can protect certain plants in situ using a thick, dry mulch or winter wraps.
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Lift and store non-hardy bulbs, gladioli corms and begonia tubers before the first frost. For dahlias and cannas, wait until the foliage has been blackened by the first frost before lifting and storing in a cold, frost-free location. Find out more about how to store bulbs and tubers over winter.
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Clear accumulated debris from your flower beds and give them a general tidy before mulching with a thick layer of compost, leaf mould or other organic material.
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Lift containers onto pot feet or bricks so they don’t end up sitting in water.
Fruit and vegetables
What vegetables to plant in October in the UK
You’re running out of time to get anything in the ground now, but there are a few crops that will overwinter for next year.
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Sow early broad bean varieties to get a crop early next summer.
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Sow hardy varieties of peas, such as ‘Meteor’ and 'Douce Provence', in pots to keep in a greenhouse or cold frame over the winter. You can also sow them in warm, sheltered spots outdoors, but they’ll need protecting with cloches.
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Garlic needs a cold period for the bulbs to develop, so now is a good time to plant garlic to harvest in late spring or early summer.
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If you didn’t plant onions for overwintering last month, now’s the time to get them in the ground.
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Plant out spring cabbages and cover with netting to protect them from the birds.
Harvesting
It’s getting to the end of the season, but there may still be food in your garden or allotment to be picked. Watch out for early frosts, which may kill off your tomatoes, and high winds, which could blow your remaining apples and pears off the tree.
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It’s pumpkin season! Leave your pumpkins and squashes in the sun to cure for 1–2 weeks. This allows the skins to harden and the fruit to ripen. Cover with straw or cardboard if necessary to protect from early frosts.
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Harvest any remaining apples and pears this month and store unblemished fruit.
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If you haven’t already harvested grapes, you’ll want to do it this month. Wait until they’re fully ripe before picking them.
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Enjoy the last of the autumn-fruiting raspberries.
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If it’s a warm, sunny month, then there’s still a bit of time for your tomatoes to ripen, especially if they’re in a greenhouse. Green tomatoes can be removed to ripen indoors or made into chutney.
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If you left any beans on the plant to dry, harvest them this month, then cut the plants down to the ground.
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You can also harvest celeriac, sweet potatoes, carrots, beetroot, swede and autumn cabbages this month.
Fruit bushes and trees
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If you’re planning on planting bare-root fruit trees or bushes, order them now.
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Container-grown fruit trees and bushes give you more flexibility as to when you plant them out, though October is an ideal time. Growing your own is often the only way to sample fruits such as gooseberries, mulberries, medlars, honeyberries and tayberries that aren’t available in the shops, as well as delicious varieties of apples, pears and plums.
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Fit grease bands or add horticultural grease to the trunks of fruit trees at the end of October to prevent winter moth caterpillars from laying eggs in the tree.
General maintenance
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October is a good time to construct raised beds and plan out your kitchen garden for next year. You’ll find plenty of branches, leaves and other organic matter around to add to your beds (useful if you’re building tall beds or following the Hugelkultur growing method) and it’s easier to work the soil now, before the ground freezes.
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If you grew buckwheat, mustard or crimson clover as a green manure, chop it down now and dig it into your beds.
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Protect winter lettuces and other greens with cloches when nighttime temperatures start to drop.
Lawns and hedges
There’s still time to sow grass seed if you didn’t get around to it last month. Otherwise, this month is about getting your lawn ready for winter.
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Give established lawns a final trim before winter. Don’t cut the grass too short, as this will slow growth in the spring.
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Scarify and aerate your lawn if you didn’t get around to this last month.
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You can still lay new turf or sow grass seed, though I’d advise getting it done earlier in the month, especially if you get early frosts.
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October is really the last month to give deciduous hedges a trim before winter.
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Evergreen and semi-evergreen hedging plants such as box, yew and privet can be planted now. Deciduous hedges are best planted a little later in the year, once leaf fall is over.
Other garden jobs for October
If you have deciduous trees in or near your garden, you’re likely to spend a fair bit of time this month raking leaves. As with most “waste products” in your garden, these can be put to good use: store them in a leaf bin or plastic bags, and in a year or two, you’ll have a wonderful leaf mould that you can dig into the soil or use as mulch. October is also a good opportunity to use the last of the warm weather to get cleaning jobs done.
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Clean water butts if you didn’t do this last month and make sure greenhouses and cold frames are ready for winter.
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Drain hoses and store them in a garage or shed to prevent them from freezing over the winter.
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Sweep up leaves and use them to make leaf mould. Either build a chicken wire container to store the leaves in or place them in a bin liner with a bit of water and poke some holes in the bottom. Your leaf mould will be ready in 12–24 months.
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As the weather turns colder and food sources grow scarce, it’s time to start feeding the birds. Check out our extensive range of high-quality bird food, including mealworms, fat balls and blocks, sunflower hearts and seed mixes.
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Clean out nesting boxes and put up new boxes if you have space. Autumn is a good time to do this, as birds will get used to the new boxes before nesting season.
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You’ll be adding lots of new material to your compost bin this month, so it’s a good idea to turn the contents to let in air and speed up decomposition.
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Make sure ponds are netted (leaving access for wildlife) and clear away fallen leaves promptly.
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Clean patios, decking and stone paths so they don’t become too slippery in wet and frosty weather.
FAQ
What can I plant in October in the UK?
October is the perfect time to plant spring bulbs like daffodils and crocuses, herbaceous perennials and container-grown trees and shrubs. It’s also a good time of year to move established plants, as they’ll have time to settle into their new location before winter. You can plant winter pansies and violas for colour over the winter and sow sweet peas in pots for next spring.
What flowers can I plant in October in the UK?
For instant colour, plant violas and winter pansies. There are also lots of flowers you can plant in October to flower next year. These include spring bulbs, such as daffodils, snowdrops, crocuses and hyacinths, sweet pea seeds and flowering perennials. In mild parts of the UK, you can also sow hardy annuals such as cornflowers and calendula to flower in spring.
What bulbs can I plant in October?
Early October is a good time to plant daffodils (narcissus), crocuses, hyacinths, fritillaries and muscari. You can also plant amaryllis bulbs and hyacinths at the start of the month to get flowers in time for Christmas – check the details for the specific variety to get the timing right. Tulips can be planted from the end of the month, though it may be better to wait until November. Find out more in our detailed guide to planting bulbs.
Is it too late to sow grass seed in October?
No, it’s not too late to sow grass seed in October, particularly if you live in a mild area. Ideally, you want temperatures of at least 8–10°C, so it’s best to get on with it as soon as possible!
