Garden jobs month by month
Garden jobs in October
In October you plant trees, hedges and shrubs, leave fallen leaves under shrubs for hedgehogs and insects, and prune very little: the main winter pruning only starts in November. Pick the last apples, pears and quinces, and move frost-tender pot plants to shelter.
Updated for 2026
What to do in the garden in October
In October the trees change colour. A good month for planting, and for recognising trees by their autumn colour and fruit.
- Plant container-grown or root-balled trees and shrubs.
- Rake leaves off the lawn and spread them under shrubs as mulch.
- Leave a pile of branches for hedgehogs.
- Harvest quinces; pick medlars after the first frost.
- Move tender potted plants such as olive and bay to shelter before the first frost.
What to prune in October?
9 trees and hedges from the guide. When and how for each plant in its pruning guide:
Pruning calendar for OctoberWhat to sow and plant
- Sow outdoors
- common poppy
- Planting out and planting
- Black-eyed Susan, catmint, columbine, crocus, daffodil, foxglove, garlic, globe thistle and 18 more
- Harvest from the vegetable garden
- beetroot, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chervil and 32 more
What to harvest
From trees, shrubs and garden plants:
- Apple fruit
- Pear fruit
- Quince fruit
- Medlar fruit
- Raspberry fruit
- Grapevine fruit
- Kiwi fruit fruit
- Hazel nuts
- Walnut nuts
- Sweet chestnut nuts
- Hawthorn berries
- Blackthorn fruit
and 80 more
Recipes
- Apple purée Apple
- Stewed pears in red wine Pear
- Quince jelly Quince
- Medlar jelly Medlar
- Raspberry jam Raspberry
- Grape jelly Grapevine
What’s flowering for bees?
Trees and shrubs with nectar or pollen for bees and bumblebees:
All speciesNature in October
- Leave fallen leaves under shrubs and in borders: hedgehogs, toads and insects overwinter in them, and earthworms turn them into humus.
- Ivy is still in flower: the last nectar of the year for bees, hoverflies and red admirals.
- Empty and clean nest boxes between October and January, when nothing is nesting in them any more.
What you can see now
- Autumn colour on sweetgum, red oak, katsura and maples.
- Mushrooms under the trees.
- Fieldfares and redwings arrive from the north to eat berries.
Challenges of the season
All challenges- Leave the leavesLeave leaves under shrubs or make a leaf pile: a winter shelter for hedgehogs and insects.
- Plant 3 native shrubsPlant 3 native trees or shrubs, such as hawthorn, hazel or guelder rose: planting season has begun.
- Measure 3 plantsMeasure 3 trees or plants, with a photo: next year you will see how much they grew.
Wildlife garden in October
All wildlife garden guidesRead more
All articles- Invasive non-native plants in your garden: how to recognise and replace themSome popular garden plants spread into the wild and crowd out the native plants there. How to recognise them, and some good alternatives.
- Shrubs and trees for birds and beesWith the right shrubs and trees, your garden will be in flower from March to October and birds will find berries until deep into winter. How to choose plants for a garden full of life.
- Which hedge should you choose? Hedging plants comparedEvergreen or not, fast or slow, for sun or shade, and good for birds? How to choose the right hedging plant, with the pros and cons of the best-known species.
Coming up
Garden jobs in December
Each monthly page is online six to eight weeks ahead, so you can plan in time.