Alan Titchmarsh has outlined five essential garden jobs that should be completed before October draws to a close. The renowned gardening presenter describes October as a "brilliant time" to make changes that will "pay off" when next year arrives.
He offered the guidance in the most recent instalment of his YouTube series, Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh. Among the tasks he recommends addressing this month are forking over flower beds, attracting birds and introducing winter-blooming plants. Alan maintains that completing these five straightforward jobs means your "garden will thank you for it".
Trim back perennials in beds and borders
Alan explained: "October is, if you like, sort of the beginning of the end, the very start of autumn. A lot of the summer flowering perennials are fading, and you can keep deadheading. But there comes a point when there's not even a deadhead to take off, and you need to do something just a bit more dramatic."
He advocates sharp shears and secateurs. First, identify which perennials require cutting back and which can remain untouched, noting that numerous plants will have already ceased flowering. Trim them down to almost soil level with your shears, as this permits air circulation and enables the plant to "bounce back" the following spring. Perennials still with green foliage can simply be lightly trimmed, but retain some of the leaves. Alan emphasised that you should leave any grasses and plants that support wildlife completely untouched.
Fork over your beds
Alan said: "October is a really good time to prick over the surface of the ground with a fork, relieving compaction and allowing a bit of air in. The job is much easier to do in a newly planted border. There'll be more bare soil between your plants. It's a bit more difficult when a border has become established, and the plants have started to grow together."
In such cases, Alan says there's no need to worry excessively about it. You'll require some quality, 100 per cent peat-free soil improver, which you should incorporate into the bed using a garden fork. He pointed out that if the soil is wet, you should wait until the next period of dry weather. It can then be left as it is throughout winter.
Welcoming birds and winter flowering plants
Alan reminded us that October is a "busy" time for birds and they'll require not only food, but also shelter and roosting spots. One straightforward way to assist is by putting up a bird box, but make certain you select a sturdy one that can cope with the weather. When positioning it in your garden, make sure it's in a protected spot and beyond the reach of cats. He also recommended purchasing one with wire mesh to prevent squirrels from entering and introducing bird-friendly plants to your garden, such as beautyberry and firethorns.
On winter flowering plants, Alan explained: "It's such a shame if the garden becomes a no-go area once autumn's arrived. Plant things that flower right the way through the winter, and you'll always want to go out there and they'll lift your spirits." Among his top picks are winter-flowering heather, pansies and hellebores.
Plant tulips
According to Alan, tulips can be planted from October right through to Christmas and will bloom "powerfully" come spring. For those planting in pots or containers, he recommends using multipurpose, peat-free compost. With thousands of colours available, Alan revealed one of his preferred combinations is purple and white. He also stressed the importance of planting bulbs "pointy end upwards" and ensuring they're packed in.
Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh airs on ITV today (October 18), from 9.30am to 11.30am.
