October
October has an average maximum temperature of 19.6°C, and an average minimum temperature of 6.7°C. October has an average rainfall of 61.9mm.
What to do this month
- Have you planted a lemon tree? No space? Have a think about planting a dwarf citrus tree!
- Citrus can still be planted. Existing trees should be watered and mulched.
- Prune flowering shrubs as they finish flowering.
- Clip back Azaleas and remove any dead growth.
- Now is the time to select new Azalea and Rhododendron plants while they’re in flower in the nursery.
- Roses need to be fertilised, watered and mulched well to retain soil moisture. Check for fungal problems.
- Much all shrubs and trees to retain soil moisture.
- Now is time to deep water your lawn. Add a soil wetter for increased moisture penetration.
- Control weeds in lawn using Kleen Lawn.
- Increase watering as required.
- Fertilise your lawn every 6 to 8 weeks.
Vegetables
- Add plenty of straw around berries as plants mature.
Sow
- Beans
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Leek
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Potato
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
- Silver beet
Plant
- Asparagus
- Asian greens
- Beans
- Cabbage
- Leek
- Lettuce
- Silver beet
- Tomatoes
Harvest
- Asparagus
- Broad beans
- Leeks
- Peas
- Spinach
Flowers and bulbs
- Begonias and Fuchsias need last year’s dead growth removed.
- Plant Dahlia tubers later in month – insert stakes before planting tubers to avoid damage.
- Gladiolus corms can be planted at two-weekly intervals, as they will flower in approximately 90-100 days.
- Deadhead annual flowers and spring bulbs. Bulbs should be given a fertiliser high in potassium and well watered before foliage dies to improve next year’s flowers. You will need to wait until foliage has completely died off before removing old leaves.
- Sow seed of summer and autumn annuals, ready for planting out by mid-December.