Updated for October 2025:
We’ve refreshed this guide with new seasonal advice to help you get the most from your garden this month.
October is a month of change in the garden. As the vibrant colours of autumn begin to fade, it’s time to prepare your garden for the colder months ahead. From planting bulbs and pruning roses to giving your greenhouse a good clean, there’s plenty to keep you busy before winter sets in.
Here are our top gardening jobs for October to help your garden stay healthy, tidy, and ready for the season ahead.
Top Gardening Jobs for October
1. Plant pot-grown soft fruit
Now’s a great time to plant soft fruits such as raspberries, blackcurrants, and gooseberries while the soil is still warm. Planting them now gives the roots a chance to establish before spring.
2. Sow over-wintering broad beans
Sow broad beans this month for an early summer harvest. Cover with cloches or fleece to protect from cold weather and hungry pigeons.
3. Plant onion sets, garlic, and spring-flowering bulbs
October is ideal for getting next year’s crops and colour started. You’ll find onion sets, garlic, and plenty of spring bulbs in store now — perfect for filling borders and pots with early colour.
4. Clear fallen debris from vegetable beds
Remove old crops, fallen leaves, and plant debris to reduce the risk of pests and diseases overwintering in your soil.
5. Mulch borders with compost or leaf mould
Add a layer of home-made compost or leaf mould to nourish your soil and protect plant roots from frost.
6. Clean and disinfect your greenhouse
Give glass and benches a thorough clean to remove algae and pests. This helps light reach plants and reduces the risk of disease as you move tender plants inside.
7. Lift and divide herbaceous perennials
Dividing clumps of perennials such as hostas or daylilies keeps them healthy and gives you more plants for free.
8. Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs
Now’s the time to take hardwood cuttings from shrubs like dogwood, honeysuckle, and hydrangea. They’ll root over winter and be ready to plant next year.
9. Prune rambling and climbing roses
Tidy up rambling and climbing roses by pruning back long, tangled growth. Always remove and destroy any fallen leaves — don’t compost them, as they can harbour fungal diseases like black spot.
10. Cut back fruited canes of summer raspberries
Once summer raspberries have finished fruiting, cut old canes to the ground. Leave new green canes — they’ll produce next year’s fruit.
11. Treat fruit trees to a winter wash
Apply a winter tree wash to trunks and branches to kill overwintering pests. You can also apply grease bands around apple tree trunks to stop female winter moths from laying eggs.
October Gardening FAQs
Can I still plant bulbs in October?
Yes! October is a brilliant month to plant most spring-flowering bulbs. Daffodils, tulips, crocus and alliums will all establish well now before the frost sets in.
Should I cut everything back for winter?
Not everything — some seed heads provide food for birds and shelter for insects. Focus on removing diseased or untidy growth and leave the rest for wildlife.
When should I bring tender plants indoors?
As soon as night temperatures start to dip below 5°C. Check for pests before moving plants into your greenhouse or conservatory.
Pop into Kings
You’ll find everything you need in store — from spring bulbs and onion sets to compost, fleece, and gardening tools. Our friendly team are always happy to help with advice for your garden this autumn.