Your garden

Your Garden In October

Autumn is officially here! October, in all its glory, gives us a wonderful display of colours. The trees are beginning to lose their leaves in abundance as they become dormant for winter, telling us that the change of season is in full swing.

The days are much shorter and cooler and we can feel autumn chill in the air. Although trees are the stars of the month, October is time to think about how the garden will look when it wakes from hibernation.

There are plants to be cut back and left tidy for the winter, shrubs to be planted or moved, summer plants to be removed and replaced with winter hardy bedding, bulbs to be strategically placed in borders and the lawn to be fed and given its final mow October may bring with it the beginning of quiet times for the garden – but not for the gardener. TIDY PERENNIALS

Perennials are not difficult plants to care for, but trimming them after flowering finishes in autumn helps to improve their appearance and give a boost to next year’s flowering. Using a knife, shears or secateurs, cut stems close to the ‘crown’ or dormant base of the plant. Any crowded clumps of perennials can also be lifted, divided and replanted. Take the opportunity to remove weeds as you prune before applying a light mulch to protect from any hard frost.

PLANT TREES AND SHRUBS

October is the ideal month to plant trees and shrubs. Although the container grown plants can be planted at any time of the year they are easier to care for if planted in the autumn or winter. The ground is damp and still warm which gives the perfect conditions to allow roots to become established before winter sets in.

PLANT AUTUMN BEDDING

Any remaining summer bedding will be looking very tired by now and is best cleared and replaced for a fresher display. Autumn bedding such as pansy and primrose will give an instant lift to the garden and they look great planted between the shrubs in the border. Myositis, which produces masses of small flowers with the little white eyes and Sweet William, which provides a colourful carpet of flowers from spring through summer are both ideal for over wintering if planted now. LOOKING GOOD THIS MONTH... CONIFERS WHY SHOULD YOU PLANT THEM?

Conifers are hardy evergreen trees and shrubs that suit any garden. They come in a huge range of shape and sizes and textures and the colour can be anything from yellow or light green through to dark green and blue. Easy to care for and long lasting, conifers are the ideal choice for any gardener looking for a low maintenance but high impact plant. HOW SHOULD YOU PLANT THEM?

Dwarf conifers are good for containers and larger shrubs and trees make good hedging or garden features. They are happy in any soil in the sun or shade. Newly planted conifers will need watering until established.. After flowering, sheer back dead flower stems to keep the plant looking full.

PUBLIC LIVING ROOMS PLANNED FOR NORTH SOMERSET

With the price of energy rising again this weekend, North Somerset Council and its partners in the North Somerset Together network are working together to develop a network of public living rooms across the area to help people keep warm this winter.

Public living rooms are safe, welcoming, and non-judgemental spaces for people to come together, stay warm, and maybe enjoy a hot drink and a biscuit. These venues will also have information to help people who might be keen to learn more about the support available to tackle the cost of living crisis The sorts of venues that might be suitable for hosting public living rooms include community buildings, sports venues, places of worship, libraries and any organisation willing to make a space available for people to use. Cllr Mike Bell, North Somerset Council’s deputy leader and chair of North Somerset’s cost of living working group said: “We are a council that cares about people and addressing the cost of living crisis is the top priority for every member of the council’s Executive. No-one should have to go cold this winter. We know already that some of our residents are worried they might have to choose between heating and eating, so to help we want to create a network of places across North Somerset where people can keep warm. “Our goal is to create a directory of all the places available to our residents across the public, private, health and voluntary sectors and to ensure this information is clearly promoted so everyone who is feeling the cold knows where they can go to get warm, stay warm and enjoy a little company and some hot refreshments.”

To enable public living rooms to be set up or maintained, grants of up to £1,000 will be available to organisations in North Somerset. The grants are funded by North Somerset Council, supported by Alliance Homes, grant funding. Applications will be accepted from North Somerset agencies and community-led organisations delivering services for people in North Somerset. More information about the scheme and grant application process is available on the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/col. The North Somerset Together Network will promote the directory of public living rooms as soon as they begin to be established with the hope that more venues will become available as news of the initiative spreads across North Somerset.

Cllr Bell added: “Our ambition is that all communities across North Somerset that need a public living room have at least one that their local residents can use to help stay warm and well.”

CALL 01179 647948

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