Expert advice Gardening jobs for October

Raking leaves, pruning and giving tender plants protection will help keep on top of things, says HANNAH STEPHENSON

- HANNAH STEPHENSON

Move tender plants like pelargoniums into a greenhouse over winter

HERE'S a nip in the air and the days are getting shorter, but October is one of those months when the ground is still warm enough to be planting, even though tidying up may take a lot of your time.

You can still be reaping the rewards of your labour in the veg patch, harvesting leeks, main crop potatoes and carrots, and making sure you've ordered cheaper bare-rooted shrubs including roses for planting during their dormant periods.

Here's a list of tasks to keep you busy in October.

Ditch your summer bedding, which is likely to have gone over by now, replacing it with winter and spring displays of violas, heathers, winter-flowering cyclamen and miniature conifers. The sooner you do this, the sooner the plants will have time to get established.

Mix in a few shrubs such as small-leaved hebes and Skimmia japonica and don't forget to add some spring-flowing bulbs underneath, such as narcissi and grape hyacinth. If your pots are small, go for the dwarf varieties of daffodils to bring balance to the container.

If you're not going to bother with winter containers, give them a good wash and store them in a cool, dry, frost-free place until you need them.

You might not feel like weeding when it's cooler, but it will save you a lot of time next year and shouldn't take too long with a good hoe.

Cut back dead flower stems, but leave some seedheads as the birds will enjoy them and perhaps leave your borders less manicured than in previous years to allow wildlife to shelter.