Gardeners urged to take action on their borders this month - or regret it next year

The right preparation in October can have your looking stunning in the Spring. However, if you neglect this important task in your borders, an expert has warned that you might seriously regret it.

No matter what size or shape your green space is, there is always a lot to do at this time of year, from ensuring that your spring bulbs are properly planted, to keeping your more sensitive plants safe from the upcoming frosts and giving your lawn some essential maintenance. However, this essential task in your borders could make the difference between your garden being your pride and joy next year or looking simply a bit scraggly.

expert and content creator Michael explained how best to tackle any spent plants in your borders to ensure everything is in the best condition possible next year in a video on his TikTok account which boasts over 250,000 followers.

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Michael explains that any plants in your borders the blooms of which have gone over need a little bit of TLC at this time of year, and there are three different ways you can approach this essential task. If you want to simply cut back the dead flowers and foliage, you should feel free to do so to make things neat and tidy in your borders, but beforehand make sure that you give the dead flowers a good healthy shake to ensure that the seeds spread into the bed below.

Another option is to wait for a dry day, preferably when the is warm, and collect the seeds fully from the dead flowers, before popping them into a plastic container - like an old takeaway box - and properly labeling them, so they are dry and ready for you to sow next year. Finally, the expert explains, that if you are a fan of having some visitors to your garden, you can always leave the seeds and spent blooms in place as a delicious meal for any visiting birds, who will be delighted to snack on them as the weather gets colder.

There is a lot to be getting on with at this time of year to ensure that your garden is in the best condition possible when spring arrives next year. October is also an important time to plant spring bulbs including alliums, hyacinths, crocus, daffodils, and snowdrops - which all provide a much-needed boost to your mood when they pop up after the frosts have finally ended.

Do you have a story to tell? Email: emma.mackenzie@reachplc.com

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