As we dip into the mellow days of autumn, it’s a good time to reach for the camera. The light levels are often perfect for photography in the garden. Capture those glistening spiders’ webs and moisture droplets that decorate leaves. Soak up every moment of the golden times when long shadows make great shots. There is generally less pollution in autumn due to cooler weather, and skies tend to be clearer.
October can catch you out. There are days that feel like an Indian summer, with bright blue skies and sun that warms, but also unexpected frosts. Protect vulnerable plants by moving them to sheltered sites or cover them in horticultural fleece.
During this magical month, don’t miss the petrichor! It’s a real treat, as is the scent of rain that arises from damp earth after it falls on dry soil. This is a time to savour the daylight, knowing it will be seeping gradually away. But rather than mourn the loss of longer days, there’s work to be done outdoors as you need to get your garden in order to make it winter ready.
• Before leaves are filling up every crevice and corner, remember to cover ponds using fine mesh. It will stop the debris from falling to the bottom of the water where it will rot.
• Stop and think before you cut things back during autumn pruning. Many plants have high feed value for garden birds. The seeds provide food, and the leaves and stems offer shelter for birds, small mammals and mini-beasts. Leave them in situ if you can.
• Collect seeds for propagation. Many of them can be sown right away, but some can be scattered later. Check the preferences of each type of seed, as some require ‘cold stratification’, where they need to undergo a cold period before they are likely to germinate. They include many acer trees, most shrubs such as cornus (dogwood) and forsythia, clematis and perennials including lavender, nepeta, sedum and rudbeckia.
• This is a perfect pruning time for certain climbers and shrubs. Beware of cutting into old wood on lavender and rosemary, however. You can prune shrub roses and soft fruit bushes. Cut hedges without too much fear of disturbing bird nests and consider giving your hedge a mulch around the base. Always check before adding fresh wood chippings, however. Some newly shredded wood can change the pH value of the soil and others might deplete nitrogen levels in the ground underneath.
• Lawn lovers will be in their element during October, as this is a good time to rake out the thatch and apply autumn lawn fertiliser. Trim the lawn edges to give it a crisp shape that should last until spring.
• It’s time to plant some underground flower power while there is still warmth in the soil. This is the best bulb-planting month for spring-flowering beauties such as daffodils, crocuses, snowdrops, alliums and hyacinths. Tulips can wait until November, or even later if the weather is mild. This helps to avoid the dreaded tulip fire virus.
