October is a wonderful month in the garden - crisp blue skies and fantastic autumn colour to enjoy. DIG IT’s Peter Brown and Chris Day look at the month as far as places to visit, what’s in the world of gardening news and timely tasks to be getting on with - so not quite the month to take your foot off the pedal!

What’s on

5th & 6th October, 10am-4pm: Buckingham Garden Centre’s Apple Weekend. Apple identifying with Gerry Edwards, apple pressing and juicing with the Mid Shires Orchard group, a Heritage Apple Display featuring over 100 varieties, Jessica Naish from the Buckingham Cut Flower Farm, a fantastic Tombola, plus The Woodland Trust and BBOWT.

Saturday 5th October: Autumn Plant Fair at RHS Garden Bridgewater, Manchester.

Saturday 12th October, 11am-4pm: National Alpine Garden Show at RHS Harlow Carr Gardens.

26th October - 3rd November: Scarecrow Hunt at Painswick Rococo Garden Trust in Stroud.

News

Giant mosaic made from apples at National Trust Cotehele in Cornwall last month.

Weather concerns could see tulip bulb prices rise by as much as 20% in 2025, Dutch growers warn.

Britain’s rarest orchid discovered after one man’s 15-year hunt.

New rare and endangered plant exhibition opens at Kew Gardens.

Plea to use less herbicides and pesticides in our towns voiced by The Pesticide Collaboration.

Tulip trees as well as storing more carbon are no longer hardwood they are now Midwood! It’s all about the cells, says new study.

Vegetable and flower seed merchant Dobies celebrates 130th anniversary.

‘Delphinium Dad’ efforts rewarded with National Plant Collection status.

Artists set to champion ancient plane tree.

A new garden commemorating the life of Queen Elizabeth II is to be constructed in London’s Regent’s Park.

Upcycling facemasks left over from the pandemic to cradle developing melons by the team at Bluebird Care in Stroud and Cirencester.

Butterfly numbers drop disastrously reports Butterfly Conservation.

Blenheim Palace introduces bee swarms to its nine new woodlands.

Huge restoration for parklands at Crystal Palace.

New report sheds light on why many plants have prickles.

Dame Mary Berry joins 40th anniversary celebrations of the Macmillan & National Garden Scheme partnership. During the last 40 years the NGS has raised more than £19 million for Macmillan through private garden openings.

David Austin launches Bring Me Sunshine ® as Climbing English Rose.

DIG IT Top 5: Climbing roses

As we approach the root wrap and bare-root season learn about our bestselling roses.

Product mentions: Long handled bulb planters, greenhouse disinfectant, bubble insulation, hedgehog houses, lawn rake and leaf grabbers, bird feeders ready and primed with wild bird mix, sunflowers, peanuts, and fat balls. Evergreen Autumn Fertiliser, and lawn seed for overseeding and patch repair.

Plant mentions: Allium ‘Rosy Dream,’ Taylors Bulb of the Year and Daffodil ‘June Allyson,’ Daffodil of the Year, Dogwoods, Hostas, Salix (Willows), planning for hedges, Garlic, Onions, and Shallots to plant now, pumpkins to harvest and rhubarb propagation - remove healthier outer sections to create new crowns.

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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