Top gardening tips for October

Spring is making a very slow appearance in Perth this year, which means you have a few extra weeks to get any gardening jobs done that you may have missed or not had time for during September.

Here’s our list of other top gardening jobs you should aim to complete during October:

• If you haven’t mulched yet, you should be right to do so over the next couple of weeks. Top up the mulch on your veggie patches, herb gardens and ornamental beds and you should be rewarded throughout summer.
• The recent wet weather has meant snails have been on the move. To help combat the damage they can cause, spread snail bait amongst vulnerable plants, especially during the wetter days.
• October is a great time to check that your reticulation is in good working order ready for the hotter months. Clean the filters, flush the drip lines, sprinklers and drippers and repair any holes.
• Plant annuals now for an extra burst of colour at Christmas. For sunny spots choose alyssum, begonia, petunia, salvia and vinca. For shady areas, impatiens are ideal.
• Vegetables that are perfect to plant during October include artichoke, eggplants, beetroots, cabbage, parsnip, capsicum, carrots, chillies, lettuce, French beans, leeks, potatoes and sweet corn.
• October is also the ideal time of year to plant tomatoes. Choose a couple of different varieties and plant alongside basil and French marigolds.

• For herbs, you can plant basil (both sweet and purple), parsley, sage, lemongrass, oregano, and marjoram.
• Fruit fans can plant mulberries, figs, persimmons, feijoas and pomegranates.
• If you live on a bush block or in a bushfire prone area, plant native succulents around your house to act as a fire retardant barrier.
• If you have composting worms, make sure to chop scraps up finely to speed up the composting process. The worms are starting to eat more now that the weather is getting warmer.
• Attract butterflies to your garden by planting tea tree, daisies, marigolds, lavender, bottle brush and grevillea.

For more information or advice, contact your local gardening specialist.