Gardening doesn't endwith the beginning of autumn. The hobby gardener also has a lot to do in October and November. We list 20 tasks that you need to complete before the start of winter. Gardening in October can also be really fun.
Gardening in October: What else needs to be done in the fall garden?
There are several tasks that you in autumnhave to do. First and foremost, you should prepare the garden for the coming winter.
Gardening in October: Taking care of the lawn
DieLawn area is also needed in autumngood care. The most important tasks you should complete are:
- Fallen autumn leavescollect regularly.
- Mow the lawn for the last time at the end of October, shortly before the first ground frost. A cutting height of 6 cm is considered optimal. If the grass is deeper, the roots can freeze. If the blades of grass are too high, they can be damaged by strong winds and snow.
- Supply the lawn with a special fertilizer containing potassium.
Winterize the garden
- Empty, clean and cover the rain barrel.
- Thoroughly clean the greenhouse and make repairs if necessary.
- Bring the conditionally hardy plants and the exotic plants into their winter quarters.
- Clean the garden pond, remove the pump and thePlants at the edge of the pondcut back.
- Bring flower pots made of frost-sensitive materials such as clay or concrete into the house.
- Clean the garden furniture thoroughly, apply a layer of protective varnish and store it.
The garden in October: cutting hedge plants
The end of October, before the first ground frost, is the right time to trim your hedges. It's not about getting the hedge into the desired shape, but rather preparing it for the coming winter.
Gardening in October: Composting
Collect the autumn leaves, sort out and dispose of the diseased leaves, let the rest dry, shred and compost. Layer the fall leaves with other organic waste from the garden and add some stone dust to speed up the process.
Tasks for the garden: Pulling weeds in October
Mid-October is the right time to pull the weeds. You should complete this task before the garden plants drop their seeds. If you remove the weeds in the fall, you can save yourself a lot of work in the spring.
Gardening in October: collecting snail eggs
The snails can cause a lot of damage to your home garden. However, this can be avoided by taking theRecognize snail eggsand collect. The eggs are often laid under stones, flower pots and in crevices of fallen branches. The storage location is protected from the wind, dark and damp. Search the garden once at the beginning and once at the end of the month. The effort will certainly pay off next year as you will be able to control the snail population in your own garden.
The kitchen garden in autumn: tasks for October
1. Harvest pumpkins: If you planted pumpkins in April and May, they will be ready to harvest in October.
2. Ensure second autumn harvest:Autumn is the right seasonCreating a new vegetable garden. At the beginning of October you can plant, among other things, rutabagas, chard, carrots, beets, garlic and kale.
3. Frost protection for the raised bed:Raised beds that have already been planted can be protected from frost and drizzle with a polytunnel. It is mounted directly on the raised bed and creates a microclimate that promotes plant growth. The polytunnel not only offers protection from the cold, but also from pests. The unique greenhouse scores with quick assembly and offers flexibility in the cold season.
3. Cut back herbs and make liquid fertilizer from the plant residue.In October you can cut all herbs back to the ground. You can use the cut plant parts of some types of herbs to make a liquid fertilizer. The following herbs are suitable:
- Roman chamomile
- Forage comfrey
- Dandelion
- Huflattich
- Horsetail
- yarrow
To make the fertilizer, place the cut plant parts in a bucket. Then fill with enough lukewarm water until it covers the herbs. Add 2-3 tbsp black molasses. Place the bucket in a warm but shady place in the garden and leave it there for 3 days. Then you can strain the liquid fertilizer and fill it into clean bottles. Alternatively, you can compost the herbs.
4. Cutting back berries:October is the right time for blackberries and red raspberriesto cut back.
5. Collect seeds:In autumn, shortly after the end of the flowering period, you can collect seeds from the herbs, flowers and various vegetables. If the fruit clusters turn beige-brown, then this is a sure sign that the seeds are ripe.
Plant new hedge plantsand extend an existing hedge. The thuja, the taxus yew, the hornbeam and the privet can be used in October. The hedge plants then have enough time to build up their root system and therefore have a head start on growth in spring.
Early blooming flowersmust be planted in autumn. These include the crocus, the anemone, the checkered flower, the iris, the grape hyacinth, the daffodil and the tulip.Especially the bulb flowerscannot be stored for long and must be put into the ground as soon as possible after purchase. So that you can enjoy a splendor of flowers in spring, the soil should be prepared accordingly in autumn. A drainage layer is an absolute must because this allows rainwater to drain away and prevents waterlogging from forming.
Plant hardy trees:Bare root trees and shrubs can benefit from fall planting. If the young plants are planted in October, they will have enough time to take root. It's worth investing in trees in the fall because they're cheaper than in the spring. The selection in the garden centers is also significantly larger: roses, fruit trees and even rarities can be found in October.
The evergreen trees and shrubs must be planted in the ground at the beginning of October at the latest, before the first ground frost.
Creating a raised bed in the garden in October:After the end of the harvest season, the raised bed must be filled again. First dig up the top layer of soil (about 15 cm deep), then fertilize with composted leaves and plant residues. Then cover with new soil. You can plant the raised bed as desired, in this case you must protect the young plants or tubers from frost with a layer of mulch.
The garden in October: to-do list for the container garden
1. Plant conifers, olive willows, Japanese holly and other hedging plants in containers.
2. Repot partially hardy plants in pots with legs and protect them from frost with a layer of mulch.
3. Propagate potted plants through cuttings or offshoots.
4. Check the containers and flower pots for cracks.
5. Empty and clean hanging baskets and flower boxes that were planted with annual plants. Compost the plant residues and take the flower pots to winter quarters or replant them.
6. Overwinter exotic plants in the greenhouse or winter garden. But first check all potted plants for pests.
7. Plant empty flower boxes with fast-growing microgreens such as rocket, watercress or buckwheat.
8. Plant the flower pots on the terrace with early bloomers.
Gardening in October: “To-Do” list
Summer is over, but there is still a lot to do in the garden at home in autumn. Not all tasks can be completed in a weekend. However, so that you don't lose track, you can create a “to-do” list.
Gardening: what to do in October?
- Mow the lawn for the last time before the start of winter.
- Prepare the winter quarters for the potted plants.
- Empty and clean the pots, flower pots and planters or overwinter the potted plants.
- Make the garden pond winter-proof.
- Composting.
- Clear the garden of weeds and pests.
- Harvest the kitchen garden and possibly plant it again. Cut back the herbs, provide frost protection on the raised beds, propagate the trees and bushes and collect the seeds.
- Plant the garden for the next season.
