October is when autumn begins to feel properly settled in the garden. Leaves turn from green to gold, berries brighten hedgerows and cooler mornings bring a slower rhythm after the long days of summer.
After this year’s prolonged heat and dry weather, that change may be especially welcome. Yet the effects of summer can linger beneath the surface. Soil may still be drier than expected, recently planted trees may be showing signs of stress and some deciduous trees will have started shedding tired leaves earlier than usual.
This month is less about keeping the garden looking perfect and more about helping it make a healthy transition. From planting and mulching to gathering leaves and preparing tender plants for colder nights, here are seven gardening jobs to focus on in October.
1. Keep checking newly planted trees for water
October often brings more rainfall, but do not put the watering can away simply because autumn has arrived. After a particularly hot and dry summer, deeper layers of soil can remain short of moisture even when the surface looks damp.
This matters most for trees and shrubs planted within the last year. Their developing roots occupy a much smaller area than those of established plants, so they are less able to search for reserves of moisture.
Check the soil several centimetres below the surface before watering. If it feels dry, give the tree a slow, thorough soak around its root area. If the soil is already comfortably moist, leave it alone. As temperatures fall and growth slows, plants will naturally require less water.
October rain can sometimes be heavy rather than useful. On compacted or very dry ground, water may run across the surface instead of soaking down towards the roots. Mulching with well-rotted organic matter can help conserve moisture, improve the soil and protect roots as temperatures begin to fall.
Keep mulch away from direct contact with the trunk. A small clear circle around the base helps prevent excess moisture sitting against the bark.
Do not worry when deciduous trees lose their leaves
For anyone who received a tree during spring or summer, October can bring an understandable moment of concern. A tree that arrived covered in green leaves may suddenly begin turning yellow, brown or bare.
For deciduous trees, this is exactly what we want to see.
Native trees such as oak, birch, rowan and hazel naturally withdraw energy from their leaves as daylight shortens and temperatures fall. The leaves change colour and eventually drop as the tree enters its winter dormancy.
Young native saplings that developed brown edges or scorched leaves during the summer drought may look particularly tired by now. Resist the temptation to feed heavily, overwater or try to encourage fresh growth. Those summer leaves have done their job.
Keep the roots appropriately watered while the soil remains dry and allow autumn to take its course. The tree now has an opportunity to settle, rest and direct its energy below ground before producing a completely new canopy of leaves in spring.
2. Make the most of autumn planting
October can be one of the best months of the year to plant hardy trees and shrubs. The intense heat of summer has passed, rainfall is generally more frequent and the soil usually retains some warmth from the previous months.
These conditions give roots an opportunity to begin establishing before winter. Although little may appear to be happening above ground, a newly planted tree can quietly settle into its new home while dormant.
Before planting, check the condition of your soil. If the ground remains exceptionally dry following summer, water the planting area beforehand and allow the moisture to penetrate. Equally, avoid planting into saturated ground where water is sitting in the hole.
Dig a planting hole wide enough to accommodate the roots without forcing them into a tight space, but avoid planting too deeply. The point where the roots begin to spread from the trunk should remain around soil level.
Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots, add a layer of mulch and stake the tree where support is genuinely needed.
Autumn planting is also a lovely reminder of the patience involved in gardening. What looks like a quiet tree in October can be putting down the foundations for years of growth.
Explore our Tree Gifts if you are looking for a living gift that can settle in this autumn and grow with someone through the seasons ahead.
3. Gather autumn leaves and turn them into something useful
Falling leaves can quickly cover lawns, paths and borders during October, but they are one of the garden's most useful natural resources.
Regularly rake leaves from lawns where a thick layer could block light and trap moisture around the grass. Clear slippery leaves from paths and steps too, particularly after rain.
Elsewhere, there is no need to remove every leaf. A light covering beneath hedges and around established plants provides shelter for insects and other garden wildlife while gradually returning organic matter to the soil.
Healthy fallen leaves can also be collected to make leaf mould. Place damp leaves into a simple leaf-mould container or suitable breathable bags and allow nature to do the work. Given time, they break down into a dark, crumbly material that is excellent for improving soil and mulching.
Avoid adding obviously diseased foliage to leaf-mould piles. Collect affected leaves separately and dispose of them appropriately to reduce the chance of problems carrying over into next year.
This is one of autumn's simplest cycles: what the trees no longer need becomes something that can nourish the garden again.
4. Give roses some gentle autumn care
October can still bring the occasional rose flower, particularly after a warm September, but the main flowering season is gradually drawing to a close.
You can remove spent blooms and obviously damaged growth, but there is no need to carry out hard pruning now. The main pruning period for many roses comes later, while October is better suited to tidying and preparing the plant for increasingly unsettled weather.
Tall rose bushes can catch strong autumn winds. Very long shoots may be shortened slightly where necessary to reduce wind rock, particularly if they are whipping around or rubbing against neighbouring stems.
Collect fallen leaves showing signs of black spot or other disease from around the base rather than allowing them to remain beneath the plant. Keeping the area reasonably clean can help reduce the amount of infected material overwintering nearby.
Stop regular feeding as the plant moves towards dormancy. Fresh, soft growth encouraged late in the season can be vulnerable when colder weather arrives.
A layer of organic mulch around established roses can help improve the soil and protect the root area, while newly planted or container-grown roses should still be checked for moisture during prolonged dry spells.
Explore our Rose Bush Gifts for living gifts that rest through winter before returning with another season of growth and colour.
5. Prepare citrus and tender plants for colder nights
October weather can change quickly. A sunny afternoon may still feel pleasantly warm, while night-time temperatures begin falling much more sharply.
Citrus trees that have spent summer outdoors should now be watched more closely. They appreciate plenty of light but are not suited to the same cold conditions as hardy native trees.
Move lemon, lime and orange trees towards a sheltered position as temperatures fall and prepare their winter home before genuinely cold nights arrive. A bright, frost-free conservatory, greenhouse or other suitable protected space is generally preferable to a very warm, centrally heated room.
Before bringing a citrus tree inside, inspect the leaves and stems carefully for pests. Check beneath leaves and around leaf joints for aphids, scale insects or other unwanted visitors.
Watering will also begin to change. Cooler temperatures and slower growth mean the compost takes longer to dry, so always check before watering rather than continuing a summer routine. Allow excess water to drain freely and avoid leaving the roots sitting in water.
Browse our Citrus Tree Gifts and our MyTree™ care guides for more help caring for living gifts through the changing seasons.
6. Finish harvesting and tidy around fruit trees
October brings some of the final harvests from the fruit garden. Later varieties of apples and pears may now be ready, while the exact timing will always depend on the variety, location and weather.
Harvest carefully and handle fruit gently if you intend to store it. Apples for storage should be sound and free from significant bruising or damage. Fruit that has fallen or become marked is better enjoyed quickly, cooked or preserved.
Clear rotting windfalls from beneath trees rather than leaving them to accumulate. This helps keep the garden tidy and removes fruit that could harbour pests or disease.
Once harvesting is complete, avoid assuming that every fruit tree needs pruning. Apples, pears, plums and cherries have different pruning requirements and timings. In particular, stone fruits such as plums and cherries are generally better left alone during the colder months.
Instead, use October to check the tree itself. Look at stakes and ties, remove anything rubbing against the bark and make sure younger trees remain stable before winter winds arrive.
Explore our Fruit Tree Gifts for trees that bring together spring blossom, summer growth and a harvest to look forward to as the years pass.
7. Give wildlife a little more room
As the garden becomes quieter, it becomes increasingly important to the wildlife that shares it with us.
Try not to tidy every corner. Hollow stems, seed heads, fallen leaves and dense areas of planting can provide shelter and food for insects, birds and other small creatures as temperatures fall.
Leave some healthy seed heads standing rather than cutting everything back. They can provide both winter structure and a natural food source for birds.
Continue keeping bird baths clean and topped up. Water remains important throughout autumn and winter, particularly during dry periods and later when natural water sources may freeze.
If you have space, create a small undisturbed area with leaves, twigs and logs. What might look slightly untidy to us can become valuable winter habitat for the creatures that help make a garden a living ecosystem.
October is a good month to become a little less controlling of the garden. Nature is beginning to slow down. We can allow some of it to do the same.
Other October gardening tips
Continue mowing while grass is actively growing, but raise the mower blades and reduce the frequency as temperatures fall. Keep paths clear of wet leaves, move tender container plants into shelter and clean pots and gardening tools as they become free. October is also a useful time to plant many spring-flowering bulbs, divide suitable herbaceous perennials and move established plants once conditions are cool and moist. Check greenhouse glass and gutters before winter, clear persistent weeds and consider installing water butts ready to capture autumn rainfall. Above all, work with the weather rather than the calendar. If the soil remains unusually dry, keep checking moisture; if heavy autumn rain arrives, concentrate instead on drainage and avoid working waterlogged ground.
October gardening checklist
- Check recently planted trees for moisture during dry weather.
- Allow deciduous trees and native saplings to enter dormancy naturally.
- Plant suitable hardy trees and shrubs while the soil remains workable.
- Mulch newly planted and established trees where appropriate.
- Collect fallen leaves from lawns and paths.
- Save healthy leaves to make leaf mould.
- Tidy roses without carrying out unnecessary hard pruning.
- Prepare citrus trees and tender plants for colder nights.
- Harvest and store late apples and pears.
- Clear damaged and rotting windfall fruit.
- Check tree stakes and ties before winter winds.
- Leave some seed heads and sheltered areas for wildlife.
- Plant suitable spring-flowering bulbs.
“October reminds us that letting go is part of growing. Leaves fall, gardens quieten and beneath the soil, the next season is already beginning.”
Growing through autumn with MyTree™
Autumn can be an uncertain time when you are caring for a living gift for the first time. Leaves that were green a few weeks ago begin turning yellow, growth slows and a healthy deciduous tree can eventually look completely bare.
MyTree™ helps recipients understand those changes rather than worry about them. Our ongoing seasonal care guidance is there to help you know when your tree needs attention and when the best thing you can do is simply allow nature to take its course.
A bare tree in winter is not an empty one. Inside, it is resting, conserving energy and preparing for the fresh growth that will return with spring.
Living gifts made for the seasons
October captures something at the heart of giving a living gift. A tree does not mark a moment for just one day. It changes with the seasons, settles into its surroundings and becomes more meaningful with time.
Explore our Tree Gifts, Rose Bush Gifts and Fruit Tree Gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, new homes, remembrance and other moments that deserve something lasting.
Plant it this autumn and the first signs of spring will feel all the more special.