Monty Don, the renowned BBC gardener, has shared valuable gardening advice for October in a recent blog entry. As the weather in October can be unpredictable, with last year seeing scorching temperatures while this year may bring a ‘wall of snow’, navigating gardening tasks during this time can be quite challenging. However, Monty Don has stepped in to offer guidance to all gardening enthusiasts eager to roll up their sleeves this month. His advice particularly focuses on supporting roses, foxgloves, onopordums, mulleins, and tulips, with the aim of protecting plants from potential winter damage.
For those tending to climbing roses, Monty Don suggests a proactive approach by advising to ‘prune hard now’. This entails removing damaged or crossing growth, old wood that can be pruned back to the ground, and fanning out the main stems horizontally at equal distances. By tying them to wires or a trellis and trimming flower-producing side stems into short stubs, gardeners can safeguard their roses against adverse weather conditions while encouraging lateral growth. Additionally, Monty recommends planting foxgloves, onopordums, and mulleins, or preparing them for their upcoming blooming season.
Naturescape experts further support Monty’s advice, highlighting that the germination of onopordums, like Cotton thistle, typically occurs in autumn. These plants form rosettes in their first year, developing a robust taproot that serves as a food reserve. While most seeds germinate in autumn following the initial rains, some can sprout year-round under favourable conditions. Seeds that germinate later in autumn become biennials, whereas early germination can lead them to behave like annuals.
In addition to these recommendations, Monty emphasises the importance of continuing to plant spring bulbs but suggests waiting another month before planting tulips. By following these expert tips, gardeners can navigate the changing landscape of October gardening with greater confidence and success. Gardening enthusiasts are encouraged to put Monty Don’s advice into practice to ensure the health and vitality of their beloved plants during this crucial time of year.