October Update

General Garden Maintenance

• Spike compacted lawns and brush sand and sulphate of iron into the holes to improve drainage. This will help green up the grass. Its also kills and prevents moss in lawns. Apply an autumn lawn food.
• Prune suckers away from the base of ornamental trees.
• Call in at Hope Valley and see the new range of seeds from our new supplier Fothergills.
• Clean out bird boxes, remember that nesting birds are a useful friend in the garden.
• If using holly as a Christmas decoration, throw a net over branches to protect them from hungry birds.
• Collect and compost any fallen autumn leaves.
• Collect seeds and berries from shrubs and flowering plants that you want to propagate also take hard wood cuttings from Cornus, Ribes, Salix and Roses.
• Plant out spring bedding, including pansies, wallflowers and forget-me-nots. Buy primroses and primulas for seasonal winter colour. 
• Pile bark mulch over the crowns of hardy fuchsias, dahlias and agapanthus etc to provide winter protection.

In the Allotment or Vegetable Patch

• Now is the time to Wrap grease bands around the trunks of fruit trees to protect them from winter moths. We recommend that you leave grease or bands on all year round to stop any crawling pests.
• Plant out onion sets and garlic.
• Prune back canes of autumn-fruiting raspberries and blackberries after harvesting. Also tidy strawberry beds, cutting back old foliage, runners, and removing weeds. · Spread a thick layer of multi purpose compost or farmyard manure to dig into your soil over winter.
• Sow green manure crops over bare areas of soil.
• Prune suckers away from the base of Fruit Trees

In the Greenhouse

• Clear fallen leaves from greenhouse roof and gutters. Clean glazing to let in maximum light and clear out old crops and growing bags, adding all to the compost heap.
• Insulate the greenhouse with bubble polythene. 
• Pick and lay out green tomatoes from outdoor crops to ripen under cover or on a windowsill, speed the process up with the help of a banana.
• Chillies and peppers should still be cropping so continue to harvest. If you have just picked the last crop why not try preserving them in olive oil to make chilli oil.
• Check heaters are working efficiently and buy fuel.
• Sow pots of hardy winter lettuces
• If you are looking to purchase a greenhouse, now is the perfect time to come and talk to us. We have show models for you to look at and we are more than happy to discuss your requirements.

Don't forget to feed the birds

Now the weather has taken a dramatic turn, it’s time to start thinking about the wild birds in our outdoor spaces. It’s the ideal time to start feeding the birds and putting nest boxes up too. The birds need some time to feel safe going to new nest boxes and feeders so don’t feel disheartened if they don’t use them straight away. Fat balls are the ideal feed this time of year as the birds needs to start putting weight on for the winter months when there is a reduced amount of natural food around. As for bird boxes it’s worth watching what birds are in your area as different birds like different nest boxes. Some like big open fronted boxes while others prefer enclosed boxes with a small entrance so it’s well worth seeing what’s right for you.