As October paints the landscape with golds and reds, it’s time to turn your attention to the garden. The shift in seasons doesn’t mean your outdoor space has to lose its charm — in fact, autumn is one of the most rewarding times to work outside. Whether you’re nurturing flower borders, tidying up vegetable patches, or caring for wildlife, a little preparation now will set your garden up beautifully for the months ahead.
1. Tidy and Protect Your Borders
Start by cutting back any perennials that have finished flowering, such as delphiniums, peonies, or phlox. Remove dying foliage and give everything a good tidy, but don’t go overboard — leaving some seed heads provides both texture and food for birds. It’s also the perfect time to mulch borders with compost or bark to protect roots from frost and enrich the soil.
If your garden is prone to heavy rain or frost pockets, consider adding protective fleece to tender plants. Use stakes or bamboo canes to support taller perennials that might still be catching the wind.
2. Care for Your Lawn
Lawns often take a beating in summer, so autumn is the time for recovery. Rake away fallen leaves to let in light and air, then scarify the lawn to remove thatch. Apply an autumn lawn feed to strengthen roots rather than promote new growth. If you have any bare patches, reseed before the ground becomes too cold — the cooler weather and regular rainfall will help new grass establish quickly.
3. Clean and Store Garden Tools
As gardening slows, now’s the time to clean and maintain your tools. Wipe off mud and sap, sharpen blades, and lightly oil metal parts to prevent rust. Empty watering cans, drain hoses, and store smaller tools in a dry shed or utility area. A tidy tool shed will make spring so much easier.
4. Harvest and Store Produce
If you’ve grown fruit or vegetables this year, October is the month for gathering and storing. Apples, pumpkins, squash, and root crops are all ready for picking. Store them in a cool, dry place, and check regularly for signs of rot. Any remaining green tomatoes can be ripened indoors, and herbs like parsley or mint can be potted and brought inside for winter cooking.
5. Add Autumn Colour
Your garden doesn’t have to fade into greys and browns. Hardy shrubs such as cotoneaster, viburnum, and skimmia provide berries and colour well into winter. Ornamental grasses also look striking in the low sunlight. Plant bulbs such as daffodils, crocuses, and tulips now for a spectacular spring display.
If you have pots or containers, refresh the compost and replace tired summer bedding with hardy winter violas, cyclamen, and pansies. A splash of colour near the front door or patio can brighten even the dullest day.
6. Look After Wildlife
Autumn gardening isn’t just about plants — it’s also about wildlife. As natural food sources decline, birds, hedgehogs, and insects rely on us a little more. Keep bird feeders topped up and leave small piles of leaves or logs to provide shelter for hedgehogs and beneficial insects. Avoid cutting back all your plants too early — seed heads and hollow stems give insects somewhere to overwinter.
If you have a pond, remove fallen leaves to prevent decay and top up water levels. Small actions like these help maintain balance and encourage biodiversity through winter.
7. Plan Ahead for Next Year
While you’re tidying, take time to note what worked well this year and what didn’t. Maybe certain plants thrived in one area but struggled in another. A simple sketch or list will help you plan better for spring. Autumn is also a great time to divide overcrowded plants like hostas and irises — this keeps them healthy and gives you new plants to spread around or share.
8. Prepare for Frost
Frost is unpredictable, so be ready before it strikes. Move tender plants such as dahlias, begonias, and pelargoniums into a greenhouse or sheltered space. Wrap outdoor pots with hessian or bubble wrap to protect roots, and raise them slightly off the ground to avoid waterlogging.
If you’re using grow tunnels, mini greenhouses, or cloches, give them a quick clean to let in maximum light during the shorter days.
9. Create a Welcoming Space
Even though the growing season is winding down, autumn gardens can still be inviting. Add a bench, a solar lantern, or a small fire pit area to make it enjoyable year-round. The golden light, crisp air, and sound of rustling leaves make October evenings some of the most peaceful of the year.
