Essential Jobs for Your Garden in October
If you’re wondering what to do in your garden in October, the good news is there’s still plenty of rewarding jobs to tackle. At Woolpit Nurseries in Suffolk, we’ve put together a guide to help you get the most out of your garden this month
1. Move Tender Plants Indoors
As frosts become more likely, it’s time to protect tender plants. Move pelargoniums, fuchsias, citrus trees, and other cold-sensitive plants into a greenhouse, conservatory, or even a bright porch.
If you have aquatic plants in containers or tender perennials in borders, bring them in too. They’ll do best in frost-free, well-lit conditions with minimal watering over winter.
💡 Tip: Group pots together in sheltered spots if you don’t have greenhouse space, and wrap them with fleece or bubble wrap.
2. Cut Back Perennials – But Leave Some for Wildlife
Perennials that have finished flowering can be cut back now to keep your borders tidy and reduce the risk of disease. However, don’t be too neat – leaving some seed heads (like echinacea, rudbeckia, and teasels) provides food for birds and shelter for insects.
This way, you keep your garden in October healthy and wildlife-friendly.
Perennials such as asters, daylilies, and hostas benefit from being divided every few years. It keeps them vigorous, prevents overcrowding, and gives you extra plants to spread around your garden.
Simply dig up a clump, split it into sections with a sharp spade or knife, and replant.
🌿 Need more perennials? Woolpit Nurseries stocks a wide selection perfect for filling borders with reliable colour.
4. Divide Rhubarb Crowns
October is also the best time to divide established rhubarb crowns. Lift the plant, cut into sections with at least one strong bud each, and replant into enriched soil.
This will rejuvenate older plants and give you healthy crops for years to come.
5. Harvest Fruit and Nuts
October is a bumper harvest month. Pick the last of your apples, pears, grapes, and nuts before they fall and spoil. Store apples and pears in a cool, dark place – they’ll keep for weeks if handled carefully.
If you don’t yet grow your own fruit, why not plant a fruit tree this autumn? 🍎
Woolpit Nurseries has a range of fruit trees and soft fruit canes – ideal for Suffolk gardens in October.
6. Prune Climbing Roses
Climbing roses need attention in October. Remove dead, diseased, or weak stems, and tie in healthy new growth to their supports. This keeps plants neat, encourages strong blooms next summer, and reduces the risk of wind damage over winter.
7. Last Lawn Care Before Winter
Milder October days are your final chance to mow lawns before growth slows. Keep the cut slightly higher than in summer to protect grass from frost.
It’s also a good time to trim hedges lightly and repair any bare lawn patches. If you’re planning a new lawn, lay turf now so it can establish before the cold sets in.
8. Other October Jobs
- Hoe and weed borders regularly to stop weeds setting seed.
- Clear fallen leaves from lawns and ponds – add them to a leaf mould pile for excellent mulch next year.
- Raise pots off the ground with feet to prevent waterlogging.
- Check greenhouses – add insulation, clean glass, and ventilate to reduce damp.
🌿 Final Thoughts
October may be cooler and darker, but it’s a rewarding month in the garden. By moving tender plants, tidying borders, harvesting crops, and preparing lawns, you’ll set the stage for a successful spring.
And remember – autumn is planting season! Whether you want bulbs for spring colour, shrubs for structure, or fruit trees for homegrown harvests, Woolpit Nurseries has everything you need.
👉 Come and see us this month to stock up and get your garden ready for the months ahead.
Visit Woolpit Nurseries This Autumn
October is one of the busiest gardening months, and having the right plants and supplies makes all the difference. At Woolpit Nurseries, we’re fully stocked with:
Spring-flowering bulbs, Ornamental and fruit trees, Shrubs and perennials, Soft fruit canes and Bedding plants for seasonal colour.
Our friendly team is always on hand to help you choose the right plants for your garden – and to share advice on planting and care.
📍 We’re located between Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket in Suffolk, and we’re proud to be your local garden plant nursery.
🕒 Autumn Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9am–5pm, Sunday: 10am–4pm
🚫 No online sales – shop in person for the best choice and quality.
