For gardeners this month is far from the end of the season. In many ways, it feels like the beginning of the next one, says our resident expert Adam Kirtland

There is something rather satisfying about October. Yes, the days are shorter, the mornings are cooler and summer has officially packed its bags, but while the garden starts to slow down above ground, beneath the soil plenty is still happening.

It’s the perfect time to plant, prepare and protect, giving yourself a head start before winter really arrives. A few simple jobs now will make life much easier next spring, so here are a handful of things I’ll be getting on with over the coming weeks.

Think beyond spring with your bulbs

If you’ve been tempted by the displays of bulbs in garden centres, now is the time to give in! Daffodils, crocuses, alliums and tulips can all be planted over the coming weeks, whether that’s in borders, containers or naturalised through the lawn.

Rather than planting everything in one place, try weaving bulbs throughout the garden. Tuck them beneath deciduous shrubs, dot them between established perennials or group pots together near your front door where you’ll see them every day. It creates a much more natural display and means that, after months of grey skies, colour begins appearing wherever you look.

Lift and protect tender plants

While many plants are perfectly happy to spend winter outdoors, others will appreciate a little extra help. Before the first frosts arrive, move tender favourites such as pelargoniums, salvias and fuchsias into a greenhouse, porch or other frost-free space.

If you grow dahlias, keep an eye on the forecast too. Once frost blackens the foliage, cut the stems back, lift the tubers, allow them to dry and store them somewhere cool and frost free until spring. It takes very little effort but can save you replacing them every year.

Make the most of autumn leaves

It can feel like a never-ending battle keeping up with falling leaves, but don’t be too quick to throw them away. Collected together, they’re one of the most valuable resources your garden can produce.

Leaves gathered from paths and lawns can be stored in bags or a simple wire cage where they’ll slowly break down into leaf mould. It takes patience, but the finished result is brilliant for improving soil and mulching around plants. Sometimes the best things for our gardens really are free.

Give wildlife a helping hand

It’s tempting to cut everything back for a perfectly tidy garden, but leaving a little untidiness can make a huge difference to wildlife over winter. Seed heads provide food for birds, hollow stems offer shelter for insects and small piles of leaves create valuable hiding places for hedgehogs and other creatures.

If you like a neat garden, compromise by tidying paths and patios while leaving one or two quieter corners to nature. Your garden will still look cared for, but it will also become a much more welcoming place for wildlife through the colder months.

October always reminds me that gardening is an exercise in optimism. Every bulb planted, every leaf collected and every plant protected is an investment in the seasons ahead. While the garden may appear to be winding down, next year’s display is already quietly taking shape beneath the surface—and that’s something worth looking forward to.