The Gardener's Almanac

Overview;

 

Generally this month is about tidying up before winter sets in, and planting out various perennials, and shrubs before the soil cools down.

 

At any time this month;

 

• Continue deadheading and suppressing weeds.

 

• Cut down Dahlias if the have been blackened by frost.

 

• Cut down Phlox after flowering.

 

• Protect Agapanthus crowns, Crocosmia, and Eucalyptus from winter frosts with a mulch of bracken, straw or cloches.

 

• Similarly protect rockery / alpine plants from the worst of the winter weather.

 

• Prepare beds to receive Cheiranthus / Wallflowers.

 

• Collect Gunnera seeds if required.

 

Week No. 40 - 30th Sept to 5th Oct

 

• Prune Abelia if necessary.

 

• Sow Lily bulbils.

 

• Plant out Acer, Achillea, Aconitum, Agrostemma, Alchemilla mollis, Allium, Anchusa, Astrantia, Avena, Berberis, Calluna/Heather,

Centaurea montana, Chionodoxa, Clematis, Clerodendrum, Colutea, Deutzia, Dicentra, Dictamnus, Dierama, Digitalis,

Echinacea, Echinops, Eryngium, Escallonia, Fatsia japonica, Genista, Hamamelis mollis, Hazel, Hellebores, Hemerocallis,

Hesperis, Heuchera, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Jasmine nudiflorum, Laburnum, Lamium, Lilies, Loosestrife, Lupin,

Narcissus / Daffodil, Pansy, Poppy / Papaver, Philadelphus, Phlox paniculata, Platycodon,Polygonatum, Potentilla,

Pulmonaria, Roses, Rudbeckia, Saxifrage, Sedum, Sidalcea, Sweet William, and Wisteria,

 

• Divide Aconitum, Alchemilla mollis, Alliums, Aqilegia, Blueberry, Billberry, Cranberry, Campanula, Convallaria, Dicentra,

Echinops, Hypericum, Lilies, Polygonatum, and Sedum plants if required.

 

• Apply a mulch around Aubretia, Ceanothus, Endymon, Eucalyptus, Eucomis, and Incarvillea.

 

• Fetch Camellias indoors for the winter.

 

• Ease back on the watering of plants, in particular Alstroemeria.

 

• Spray roses to deter mildew and Black spot.

 

Week No. 41 - 6th to 12th

 

• Plant out Althaea, and spring bulbs.

 

• Lift Gladioli corms.

 

• If necessary; now is a suitable time to move evergreen shrubs, trees and conifers.

 

• Remove old rose bushes that have been reluctant to flower.

 

Week No. 42 - 13th to 19th

 

• Plant out Actinidia, Chieranthus, Wallflower, seedlings, and Tulip bulbs.

 

• Plant up bare rooted rose plants into containers.

 

• Divide Echinacea, Hemerocallis, Loosestrife, if required.

 

• Trim Calluna/Heather.

 

• Cut down Dictamnus, Digitalis, Loosestrife, Osteospermum, Paeony, and Penstemon.

 

• Clear away spent summer plants from beds and containers.

 

• Prepare Dahlia tubers and box them up for winter storage.

 

• Root prune Physalis plants.

 

• Lift Canna and store for winter.

 

• Move containerised Zantedeschia to a frost free area for the winter.

 

• Prepare bed for the following years Gladioli.

 

Week No. 43 - 20th to 26th

 

• Cut down Delphinium plants to ground level after leaves have died back.

 

• Ensure newly planted roses have not suffered from wind-rock damage, firm in as necessary.

 

• In colder areas it may be worth while lifting Gazania plants and potting them up to store in a frost free area.

 

• Clean Gladioli corms and store in a cool spot.

 

Week No. 44 - 27th to 2nd Nov

 

• Plant out Abies and Celastrus seedlings.

 

• Divide Rudbeckia, if required, or wait till new growth emerges in spring.

 

• Take Bacopa plants indoors, trim and prepare for winter storage.

 

• Cut down Echinacea, Lupin, Lychnis, Rudbeckia, plants to ground level after leaves have died back.

 

• Cut back; Escallonia and roses to prevent wind rock damage to roots during wet and windy weather.

 

• Protect Ferns for the winter.

 

• Place containerised Alstroemeria into a frost free area for the winter.

 

• Prepare / protect outdoor containers for the winter.

 

• Lift, box up, and store Chrysanthemum stools.

 

• If not done previously; do the same with Dahlia tubers.