October gardening jobs checklist
- Keep an eye out for pests, particularly caterpillars. They love the warmer weather and new Spring growth. Pick them off by hand before numbers get too big.
- Make sure your tomatoes and climbing vegetables are correctly staked and secured.
- The aphids are about. Put a glove on and squash the little suckers.
- If you purchased bare rooted roses during Winter, give them a feed now.
- Remove unwanted suckers from plants such as Crepe Myrtle and Robinia.
- Take leaf cuttings of succulent plants.
- Feed Gardenias with a liquid fertiliser.
- Just fertilise everything.
- Top up mulch to reduce water evaporation during the Summer months.
- Adjust your watering routine to accommodate the warmer weather. Water plants in the morning so leaves will dry and the incidence of fungal infection is reduced.
- Give your indoor plants some love. Repot them if necessary, give them a good wipe over and a dose of indoor plant food.
- Trim and remove dead flower heads of annuals and Spring flowering plants.
- Give Clivias some attention. Remove the old flower stalks and any dead foliage. If the clump has become quite large and crowded, dig it out and divide it into sections. Replant these then fertilise in a month’s time.
- Prune ornamental blossom trees.
- Look out for leafminers on the new growth of your citrus plants.
- Once the leaves on flowering bulbs have died down, trim off the remaining brown leaves. If you choose to lift and store them, clean, dry and store them in brown paper bags in a cool, dry spot.
- Look out for Bindiis. Remove the clumps from lawns as soon as possible to prevent them setting seed for next year.
- Head down to the nursery and choose some potted colour to brighten up the place.
- Spread straw mulch around strawberry plants to keep the stems and fruit from coming into contact with the soil.
October flower planting guide – Seeds & seedlings
Add some colour to the garden during October. Plant or sow seeds based on your climate. Be sure to also check out your local nursery for any other suitable seedlings.
Amaranthus, Billy Buttons, Brachyscome, California Poppy, Carnation, Celosia, Coleus, Cosmos, Dahlia (sub-tropical only), Dianthus, Gerbera, Impatiens, Marigolds, Petunia (sub-tropical only), Phlox, Salvia, Sunflower, Zinnia
Amaranthus, Alyssum, Billy Buttons, Brachyscome, Calendula, California Poppy, Carnation, Celosia, Coleus, Cosmos, Dahlia, Dianthus, Gerbera, Gypsophila, Impatiens, Marigold, Nasturtium, Petunia, Phlox, Portulaca, Salvia, Snapdragon, Sunflower, Verbena, Zinnia
Amaranthus, Alyssum, Billy Buttons, Calendula, California Poppy, Carnation, Celosia, Coleus, Dahlia, Dianthus, Gerbera, Gypsophila, Lobelia, Marigold, Nasturtium, Pansy, Petunia, Phlox, Portulaca, Salvia, Snapdragon, Sunflower, Verbena, Zinnia
October fruit & vegetable planting guide – Seeds & seedlings
Asian Greens, Basil, Climbing Beans, Beetroot (sub-tropical only), Capsicum, Carrot (sub-tropical only), Chilli, Chives, Choko. Eggplant, Ginger, Lettuce (sub-tropical only), Melons (sub-tropical only), Okra, Pumpkin, Radish (sub-tropical only), Rocket (sub-tropical only), Silverbeet (sub-tropical only), Spring Onion, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Tomato, Zucchini
Asian Greens, Basil, Climbing Beans, Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Celery, Chilli, Chives, Choko, Coriander, Eggplant, Ginger, Kale, Leek, Lettuce, Melon, Okra, Potato, Pumpkin, Radish, Rocket, Silverbeet, Spring Onion, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Tomato, Turnip, Zucchini
Asian Greens, Climbing Beans, Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Celery, Chilli, Chives, Coriander, Eggplant, Kale, Leek, Lettuce, Potato, Pumpkin, Radish, Rocket, Silverbeet, Spring Onion, Sweet Corn, Tomato, Turnip, Zucchini
October flowering plants
- Banksia
- Boronia
- Bottlebrush
- Bougainvillea
- Camellia
- Dianella
- Eremophilia
- Fuchsia
- Gardenia
- Grevillea
- Helichrysum
- Indian Hawthorn
- Jacaranda
- Kangaroo Paw
- Jasmine
- Lavender
- Lilac
- Murraya
- Nasturtium
- Native Frangipani
- Native Hibiscus
- Philotheca
- Polygala
- Protea
- Rhododrendron
- Rondeletia
- Rose
- Snake Vine
- Viburnum
- Waratah
- Westringia
- Wisteria
Spotlight on…
Philotheca buxifolia ‘Cascade of Stars’
A lovely sprawling Australian native shrub that grows 50cm wide to 50cm wide.
In Spring, this Philotheca produces a mass of pink flower buds which open to display pale pinkish-white star-shaped flowers. It has a naturally cascading growth habit and lovely aromatic mid-green foliage. Attracts birds and bees.
Suitable for temperate and dry climates.
