October Flower Care Guide

Planting Spring Bulbs and Bedding

• Plant spring bulbs and containers for spring display without delay.
• Remove old summer bedding and plant spring plants and bulbs straight away, ensuring weeds are removed first.
• Pots and other containers can be replanted with spring bedding and bulbs.

Perennial Flower Maintenance

• Perennial flowers can be planted, lifted, and divided as needed.
• Remove messy tops from perennial plants, but leave good seed heads and flower stems for a withered effect in winter.
• Lift, divide, and replant perennial flowers that have grown too large.
• Collect seeds from perennial flowers with seed pods and either sow them immediately or store them dry until spring.

Annual Flower Care

• Seeds of annual flowers can still be sown this month into fine soil where they will flower next summer, providing an easy and inexpensive way to add color to your garden.
• Cease liquid feeding of pots or hanging baskets, as it is now too late to be worthwhile.

Transitioning from Summer to Spring Bedding

• Remove summer bedding plants that have gone over in preparation for planting spring bedding.
• Choose easy-to-care-for perennial border flowers that need no staking when planting new ones or dividing existing plants.