ALTHOUGH autumn was slow to get properly started this year, October brings with it a host of new gardening jobs to be getting on with.

Gardening World host Monty Don has broken down exactly what you should be doing this month and why it's also the perfect time to plan ahead for next year.

The gardening guru, 68, explained in a blog post for his website: "

“There is barely a hint of autumn other than the shortening days and cooler nights.

“The garden remains a strange matt green without a hint of the delicacy and fading that usually characterises the end of September.” 

Despite the unusually warm start to the month, the normal jobs still need to be completed.

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One of these is raking any fallen leaves into a leafmound, something Monty said he's "obsessive" about.

This involves gathering "as many of the fallen leaves as possible," thenchopping them up with a mower and leaving them in a heap so they can break down and be used in potting compost.

You should also move tender plants inside or undercover "before they need protection."

This includes plants like pelargoniums, succulents, fuchsias, eucomis and hedychium.

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Planning ahead for spring can be done this month too, Monty noted.

"Save yourself a fortune by collecting seeds from perennial plants, using paper (not polythene) bags," the gardening expert wrote.

Remember to label the bags so you remember what they are and leave them in a cool, dry place until it's time to sow them.

You can also take cuttings with a sharp knife on healthy but non-flowering growth, and add to peat-free compost for it them to grow successfully.

Spring bulbs can still be planted, minus tulips which should be left for another month.

To keep your plants looking their best, deadheading them throughout October is an importnat step, especially for particularlyplants like dahlias.

"This will extend their flowering season and squeeze the last bloom from them," Monty explained.

And finally, this month is a good time to start digging any ground that you either want to replant over winter or next spring.

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Doing it now will make it easier because the ground will still be relatively dry.

But you can always do it in short sessions if it's a big job for your garden.

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