Gardening

Edition Thirty One - October 2008

It's October already and the damp and miserable summer leaves us ill-prepared for the long winter months ahead. But gardeners are optimistic folk and we can cheer ourselves up by starting to plan the garden for next year..

Or by going blackberrying

Thoughts might be turned to growing some of your own produce as we have done this year. (and lived very well off it I might add) With the rising price of food and pending retirement we have turned the bottom of our large garden into an allotment which has added a whole new dimension to our gardening efforts.. I haven't bought any fruit and veg from the market for about three months, and this is just our first year, which has been very much trial and error .. The difference between shop bought and home grown produce is very noticable. Home grown tastes so much nicer, it stays fresher for longer and is chemical free..

A newspaper article from September tells us that due to a dramatic decline in honey bee numbers through bad weather, insecticides and parasitic mites, UK honey supply is expected to run dry within three months and stocks of fruit and vegetables pollinated by bees will be devastated.. Read more about it here

Battling withslugs and snails? Get a hedgehog!

Jobs for the month - October

Lawns

September - November is the time to give your lawn to an application of Autumn Weed and Feed. Wait for a dry day (that could be a problem!) when there is not too much wind. Even if your lawn is looking green and lush due to so much rain, the Autumn weed and feed boosts root growth over winter.

Herbs

Have you thought about growing some windowsill herbs for use in the winter months? They are freely available in supermarkets now and bring a little of the outdoors in to your kitchen.. It is so nice to cook with fresh herbs.

Houseplants

Stop feeding houseplants now until about March- April. Cut back on watering this month and place plants where they will be out of draughts for the winter months. It is always worth double checking that you are giving your houseplants the conditions they require..

Bulbs.

Now is the time to plant up specially prepared hyacinths for Christmas colour. Amaryllis can be planted indoors now and hopefully they too will be in flower for Christmas.

Handy tip: Put labels in the soil near any bulbs you have planted, which will save you overplanting with other plants in error!

Greenhouse

If, like me, you find it difficult to throw away pelargoniums, (geraniums) dig them up and store them in containers to overwinter in the greenhouse. Keep them as dry as possible and take cuttings in the spring. I know August is the proper time to take Pelargonium cuttings but I find they generally rot off over winter, whereas the cuttings taken in spring are strong and healthy with 100% success rate.

Continue growing lettuce in the greenhouse for autumn use.

Wildlife

It is time to clean up bird feeders that will do such a good job over the coming months and fill them with peanuts or seed. There are strong stainless steel types in the shops now that Squirrels can't get into.  

If you are making heaps of leaves and twiggy stuff ready for a bonfire, do have a check that a hedgehog is not sheltering there before you strike a light. This very often does happen unfortunately...

Talking of hedgehogs, if you have been plagued by slugs and snails this year have you thought about Getting a hedgehog?

Happy gardening till next month....