It is important to your garden as the UK moves into the wet and windy autumn months. Particularly as parts of Britain are likely to be hit by a “monster” storm on October 9, which will leave parts of the country impacted by heavy rain and winds.

Thankfully, a gardening expert has come to the rescue with the October jobs that we need to do now to protect our outdoor space.

Jamie Shipley, managing director at Hedges Direct has shared which shrubs to prune and the diseases to look out for this month. 

Shipley said: “Autumn is the perfect time to take an assessment of your outside space and start tidying up areas that have become a bit unruly. It’s also important to take preventative measures to protect your garden when storms hit.”

Let’s take a look at the gardening jobs for October in more detail.

Prune deciduous trees and shrubs:

Shipley said: “October is an ideal time to prune your deciduous foliage because the weather is usually still fairly warm which means your plants are less likely to incur damage from cold snaps. An added benefit is you also don’t run the risk of disrupting nesting birds.

“When it comes to pruning deciduous shrubs, your aim should be to maintain their size and shape to stop them from overtaking your gardening or stealing light and nutrients from your other plants. They will only need a light trim in October to remove the fresh unruly growth which appeared in late summer.

“When pruning deciduous trees, begin by looking for the three D’s: dead, damaged or diseased branches. Using a pair of sharp loppers, cut off any material that is showing signs of the three D’s and any branches which are crossing over to limit damage to the wood when they rub against each other. Aim for a clean cut and look for where a branch meets the trunk, leaving a collar of about 3-5 cm.”

Water early-flowering shrubs:

The expert explained: “It might seem crazy to think about watering shrubs at a time of year when rain is plentiful, but early flowering shrubs benefit from an extra boost to look their best come spring.

“Azaleas, Camellias and Rhododendrons will all need watering if the weather in October is dry.”

Plant flowers and bulbs:

“Just because autumn has arrived doesn’t mean certain flowers can’t be planted out if the weather is still warm and the soil is moist enough for plants to establish a root system, Shipley advised.

“Dogwood, Firethorn, Skimmia and Viburnum can all be planted in October as a way of adding some lovely colour to your garden.”

Spring:

The expert advised: “Flowering bulbs can also be planted in October, including daffodils, crocus, hyacinths and tulips. For the most part, hardy bulbs only need a sunny spot with good drainage and are easy to grow and care for.

“Begin by digging a hole wide and deep enough to take your chosen bulbs. A general rule of thumb is to plant bulbs 2-3 times their depth and space them a hand-span apart, always placing the pointed tip of the bulb facing upwards.”

Sow flower seeds:

Aquilegia:

Plant 2-3 seeds per 9 cm in a pot with fresh compost and lightly cover the seeds with soil.

Cornflowers:

Autumn-sown Cornflower seeds make for bigger, bushier plants that flower earlier than spring-sown seeds. Sprinkle seeds on raked, weed-free soil and cover lightly with soil.

Californian poppies:

Sowing poppy seeds in October will give you gorgeous plants the following spring. Remove any weeds or stones before scattering a pinch of seeds lightly on the soil and cover lightly.

Sweet peas:

For best results ‘nick’ the seed case with a clean, sharp knife before planting three seeds in a 9cm pot using good quality compost. Water well and leave in a cold frame or cool greenhouse ready to plant out in May of the following year.