Garden jobs for October

GARDEN JOBS

Here are some of the top jobs to be getting on with in the garden this month...

1. Divide established rhubarb crowns to create new plants Division will guarantee a plant identical to the parent and is the most common method of propagation. It is also good practice to divide established crowns about once every five years if they have become weak or overcrowded.

2 Cut back perennials that have died down Trimming perennials after flowering finishes in autumn helps improve their appearance and flowering. However, you can leave some stems over winter to provide homes and food for wildlife, and then trim back in spring.

3 Divide herbaceous perennials Most perennials benefit from division every two to three years to maintain health and vigour. If you want to increase the number of plants you have by dividing them, the task can be done more regularly.

Harvest and store apples, pears, grapes and nuts

garden. Tropical plants and exotics can be moved inside during autumn after a spell in the garden through the summer months.

5 Plant out spring cabbages Plants from seeds sown in July/ August can be planted out now. Space 10cm (4in) apart, in rows 30cm (1ft) apart, then thin out to 30cm (1ft) apart in late February/March.

6 Harvest apples, pears, grapes and nuts If handled carefully and placed in the right environment, fruit from your garden may be stored for several weeks, or even months. So, with a little planning, you could be eating your own apples at Christmas. 7 Prune climbing roses If left, climbing roses can become a tangled mess of branches with very few flowers. Although often considered complicated, rose pruning is not difficult if you follow this guide. Advice can be found on the RHS website.

8 Finish collecting seeds from the garden to sow next year Collect ripe seed on a dry day, as soon as the seedheads ripen. This is often indicated by a colour change from green to brown, black or red, but must be before they open and shed their contents.

9 Last chance to mow lawns and trim hedges in mild areas You can continue to mow the lawn so long as the grass is still growing. Keep mower blades high so the grass looks neat but isn’t weakened by being cut too short as temperatures fall.

10 Renovate old lawns or create new grass areas by laying turf Autumn is the time to examine lawns for signs of summer wear-and-tear, and treat if necessary. At this time of year, any treatment has time to take effect before temperatures fall and growth stops.

4 Move tender plants into a greenhouse or conservatory A conservatory is the ideal place for overwintering tender perennials and marginally hardy plants from the