What to do in your garden RIGHT NOW! (October edition), by BBC Gardeners' World Magazine on YouTube. 18 min 13 s.
- Video length
- 18 min 13 s
- Time to do it
- 1 to 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick your apples when they lift away from the branch with a gentle twist and the pips are dark brown. Handle them carefully, because bruised fruit rots first.
Store only perfect apples. Wrap each one in newspaper and set them in a single layer in a cool, dark, frost-free shed or garage.
Plant bulbs at about three times their own depth, pointed end up, in soil that drains well. Space them roughly two bulb widths apart.
Get narcissi and crocuses in the ground in early October, then wait until November for tulips. Late planting cuts the risk of disease.
Lay chicken wire or plastic mesh flat over the planted bed and peg it down at the edges. Squirrels can dig through soil but not through the mesh.
For pots, plant the bulbs as normal, then cover the compost with mesh or a thick layer of grit. Firm the surface so it is not loose and easy to dig.
Divide early-flowering perennials such as pulmonaria once the leaves die back. Lift the clump with a fork, split it with two forks back to back, and replant the healthy outer pieces.
Rake fallen leaves into perforated bags or a wire bin, keep them damp, and leave them for a year or two. The result is free leaf mould for mulching beds.
Tips and common mistakes
Firm the soil and water it after planting, as squirrels dig most in soft, freshly disturbed ground.
Check the mesh for gaps at the edges, since squirrels will find any loose corner and dig underneath.
Clean your spade or knife between dividing different plants to avoid spreading soil-borne disease.
Leaf bags left bone dry rot very slowly, so add water if the leaves look crisp after a few weeks.
Questions
Why do squirrels dig up bulbs?
They smell the fresh soil and the bulb itself, and soft ground is easy to dig. Some bulbs, especially tulips and crocuses, also get eaten outright.
Will squirrels eat daffodil bulbs?
Usually not. Daffodil and narcissus bulbs are toxic, so squirrels tend to leave them alone, but they will still dig them up and leave them on the surface.
How long does leaf mould take?
Around one to two years. Thin, soft leaves such as beech break down fastest, while thick, leathery leaves take longer.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
