Barbara Stockitt's Guide to Classic Gardening...

October

Check whether your BUXUS  and  TAXUS in pots need to be re-potted.  If you do not want to move them into a larger pot, it is possible to root-prune them.  Put new compost in the pot and replant the plant.

In the HERBACEOUS border have a good tidy up.  Remove canes or pea sticks.  Store anything re-useable so that they are ready for next year.  Now is the time to make changes if you  so wish moving  plants around as appropriate.

Prepare new ROSE beds.  This is a good time to prepare  the soil.  Dig in a good quantity of well rotted manure.  Preferably do not replant an old rose bed, but if you do either sterilize the soil or change the top 38cm of soil.

Evergreen SHRUBS may still be planted whilst  the soil is still warm.  Remove the tall stems of late flowering shrubs.  This will help to prevent wind damage in the winter.

CLIMBERS and WALL plants.  Any planting of these should be done as soon as possible and check that the supports are in place.

HEDGE planting.  When your plants arrive get them in as soon as possible, particularly evergreen hedges.  Do not let the roots dry out.  Deciduous plants may be heeled in temporarily if you are not quite ready to plant.

In the VEGETABLE garden, harvesting is in full swing.  Most varieties of fruit should be off the trees by the third week.  A few varieties such as Sturmer Pippin and Granny Smiths should be left until the beginning of next month.  STORAGE - The conditions should be coolness, darkness and a little ventilation.

Remove dead leaves and debris from the lawns and continue to mow as necessary.  Turf can be laid now though this is  a fairly expensive  way of making a lawn.  Be sure that they  are of good quality.