October in your Cool Temperate garden

Snails can be really active during rain periods at this time of the year, threatening the flowers of plants such as iris and the young foliage of dahlias and hostas. Be pro-active about controlling them, placing snail bait in vertical leafed plants, where they specifically like to shelter, or collecting them as they move about the garden.

Tomatoes should be planted once the threat of late frosts is over. Timing will vary from place to place, but in metropolitan areas early to mid October should be safe if the plants are in a protected position. Apollo 3 is the best early variety, as its fruit will set and ripen in the least sun.

Containers planted now will offer great summer colour. Select a quality potting mix that complies with Australian standards – look for the white ticks on the red background – and also contains fertilisers to get your plants growing and a wetting agent to ensure they are well watered. Debco Terracotta & Tub is an ideal mix.

Plant your garden with new shrubs and perennials now, filling those gaps that become more obvious as plants flower in summer. Your local nursery will be full of tempting plants to choose from. Help get your plants established by applying Phostrogen Plant Food to get initial growth and Debcote Time Release fertiliser for long-term growth.

Don't let the dry weather put you off planting. Just make sure the seedlings you plant will prosper by making the soil as accepting to water as possible. Apply Debco SaturAid to get water into the soil and Debco Mulch'n'Feed to keep it there. A drip irrigation system applies water really efficiently. Follow these steps and you'll have great plant growth and a reduced water bill!

Zucchini are so productive that if your family enjoy them you will get great benefit from growing them and you don't need a huge area. They really do appreciate plenty of rotted organic matter in the soil and a ready supply of fertiliser. Add cow or sheep manure to the planting soil to get a good friable mix and fertilise the plants with Phostrogen Plant Food. A liberal dressing of organic mulch is good too but remember, keep young plants consistently watered.

By planting Mesclun lettuce in containers now you can be sure of a regular supply of fresh leaves for your salad. They don't take a lot of work and can be closely planted to get vigorous growth. Use Debco Terracotta & Tub and Phostrogen Plant Food for effective growth. You can even cultivate them in old fruit and vegetable boxes rather than expensive containers as long as they have drainage holes.

Bottlebrushes are in flower in many places. This may tempt you to grow some for your own garden. Seed is held on the plant in woody capsules along the stem. It can be collected at any time, placed in a warm dry place and the seed will be released. Sow seeds in Debco Seed Raising Mixture.