October Monthly Tips

The Flower Garden

  • Continue to plant out seedlings of summer flowering annuals, also summer flowering bulbs such as dahlias, begonias, and calla lilies.
  • Plant up hanging baskets and pots – remember to add in some crystal rain water granules and ‘Saturaid,’ to enable easier and less frequent watering through the summer.
  • Feed roses with a good quality rose food. Mulch roses and other flowering shrubs to conserve moisture.
  • Spray roses with ‘Combat 3 in 1 for Roses’ or ‘Grosafe Freeflo Copper’ to prevent fungus diseases and pest damage. More on sprays or more on Organic sprays.
  • Prune back spring flowering shrubs after flowering has stopped.
  • Liquid feed annuals and perennials with ‘iCan Fast Food.’
  • Now is a good time to install a home irrigation system before the warmer weather arrives.
  • Spray lawns with ‘Yates Turfix’ to eradicate any broadleaf weeds. Feed with a slow release lawn fertiliser. More on lawns.
  • Re-pot house plants – go one size larger, use fresh, new potting mix and liquid feed weekly.
  • Swan plants are instore now. More on Monarch Butterflies.

The Edible Garden

  • October is a busy month in the vegetable garden. Good preparation done in August and September will now start to pay dividends. Follow this link to see the Whanganui vegetable planting plan.
  • It is now warm enough to sow seeds directly into the ground – peas, beans, carrots, sweetcorn, silverbeet, beetroot, lettuce, cucumber, courgettes, pumpkins and tomatoes, can all be sown this month. More on cucurbits.
  • October is also the perfect time to plant new plants of rhubarb, passionfruit, and tamarillos. Blueberries should also be planted now. More on blueberries.
  • Feed citrus trees this month with a good citrus and fruit tree fertiliser. Spread out to the drip line of the tree and water well after applying. More on citrus.
  • Plant out fresh herb plants this month for summer use. Herbs do well in pots and baskets. It is a good idea to plant mint in a pot as it can be very invasive in the garden.
  • October is also tomato month. Plant out tomato seedlings and be sure to stake taller varieties at time of planting. Water well with warm water, and when watering during the growing season be careful not to water the leaves and foliage of tomato plants. Feed tomato plants regularly with liquid tomato food. More on tomatoes.
  • Set your codling moth traps. More on codling moth.
Months: October