OCTOBER - FLOWERS & LAWNS - This is when the garden really gets cranking – enjoy!
TIME TO HARVEST...
The first of the new season’s flowers will be appearing in the garden – rhododendrons pick well.
TIME TO PLANT...
Time for summer colour having dug compost into the soil, the recommended varieties are petunias, lobelia, marigolds (great for deterring pests), alyssum, nasturtiums, white chrysanthemum daisies, antirrhinums, geums etc. Apart from shade-loving impatiens, all annuals thrive in full sun with regular feeding and dead-heading where necessary. Perennials are the mainstay of a good flower border and the summer range is extensive. Gaura, perennial petunias, blue geranium Rozanne, zonal geraniums, heucheras, penstemons, verbena bonariensis, dahlias, euphorbias, senecio angel wings, scabiosa, Alchemilla mollis, federation daisies, alstroemerias would be amongst the most popular. Want to feed Monarch butterfly caterpillars this season? Plant swan plants as soon as they’re available to get some size on the plants before they’re needed. Got a hot dry area that needs an easy solution? Succulents are the way to go – huge range, great in pots.
TIME TO SOW...
Seeds for all summer flowering plants, either in seed trays, or in the little peat pots so that they can be planted straight into the ground to avoid root disturbance. Time to sow lawn seed in the bare ‘tired’ patches, ensuring the soil is damp but not wet through the initial growing phase when the new roots are tiny. Lawn watering needs to be less often but deeper to encourage deeper roots ready for dry spells. For children learning to love gardening sunflowers, radishes, and lettuces are fast growers & easy.
TIME TO FEED...
We feed roses in alternative months – September, November, January, March, so now’s the time to feed again. Feed newly planted seedlings with liquid Thrive at planting time, and then side dress with high-potash plant food. Feed perennials every second month with high-potash food
TIME TO PROTECT...
Roses from dryness – a ‘Y’ splitter at the end of the hose enables two hoses to run at once – 20 minutes of a steady stream at the base of the rose plants gives a deep soaking, once every 2-3 weeks in high summer. Always better to water less often but deeper which encourages roots to go further down, frequent light watering only encourages surface root development. Protect roses from fungal & insect problems; alternate between different sprays to avoid any spray resistance building up – there are plenty of options and we can give you expert advice.
TIME TO CONTROL...
Weeds in all parts of the garden as they get away quickly at this time of year, including in the lawn – use Kiwicare Turfclean Ultra for all lawn weed problems, remembering not to put the lawn clippings into the compost bin for 6 weeks.