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Planting guide · Autumn (Oct–Nov)

What to plant in October in Dubai

Prime planting month
Mean high35.9°CMean low25.4°CTo sow or plant90Flowering or fruiting46

October is the starting gun. Highs fall below 36°C for the first time since April, nights ease towards 25°C, and the soil is still warm enough to push roots fast, which is why this is the busiest planting month in Dubai. Trees, palms, shrubs, climbers and groundcovers all go in now, as does new turf, and the first of the cool-season vegetables follow: broccoli, cabbage, root crops and herbs. Winter bedding such as Petunia, Marigold and Vinca goes in for colour from December.

Buy the best plants you can afford. A larger, healthier nursery plant set out in October will overtake a smaller one planted in spring, because it spends a whole cool season establishing instead of one summer fighting. Dig the hole twice the width of the rootball, soak it, and keep the new plant moist, not wet, for the first weeks. Reduce irrigation frequency gradually as the days cool, and overseed or renovate natural lawns. Hold lettuce and spinach until November, when nights cool a little more.

A Dubai villa garden in autumn: freshly planted beds of young seedlings in dark soil around the pool, a striped lawn and a bare frangipani in soft golden light
  1. Jan24°
  2. Feb26°
  3. Mar29°
  4. Apr34°
  5. May38°
  6. Jun40°
  7. Jul42°
  8. Aug42°
  9. Sep40°
  10. Oct36°
  11. Nov31°
  12. Dec27°
  • Soil prep
  • Prime planting
  • Bloom and harvest
  • Last planting
  • Survival

Bar and figure: mean daily maximum, °C

Plant now

Sow and plant in October

90 plants have a sowing or planting window this month in our library, best bets first.

Vegetables & herbs (10)

Edible crops, herbs and fruit · Kitchen garden guide →

Mint
Mint (Mentha spicata), a clean sprig with green leaves

Mint

Mentha spicata

Part shadeSalt: 1 of 5
Plant
Rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) plant growing in a garden within the village of Trimingham, Norfolk, United Kingdom.

Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Basil
Ocimum basilicum 8zz

Basil

Ocimum basilicum

Sun/part shadeSalt: 1 of 5
Flowers
Cherry tomato
Cherry Tomatoes From The Garden

Cherry tomato

Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme

Full sunSalt: 1 of 5
Flowers
Chilli
Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio

Chilli

Capsicum annuum

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Aubergine
An Aubergine plant “Moneymaker F1” (Solanum melongena) growing in a greenhouse within in the village of Trimingham, N...

Aubergine

Solanum melongena

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Cucumber
ARS cucumber

Cucumber

Cucumis sativus

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Plant
Lettuce
Lactuca sativa 'Lollo Bionda' growing in an English garden

Lettuce

Lactuca sativa

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Plant
Show 2 more
Curry leaf
Curry Trees

Curry leaf

Murraya koenigii

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Coriander
A scene of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) leaves

Coriander

Coriandrum sativum

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers

Flowers (10)

Bedding and flowering annuals

Marigold
The flower in bloom of a Tagetes erecta found in Innis Woods Metro Park.

Marigold

Tagetes erecta

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Zinnia
Close-up of a zinnia flower (Zinnia elegans) Stacked with Helicon Focus from 15 pictures, taken in a garden in Bamber...

Zinnia

Zinnia elegans

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Bird of paradise
Ave-do-paraíso, Strelitzia reginae, em Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Bird of paradise

Strelitzia reginae

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Gazania
Yellow flowers of Gazania rigens

Gazania

Gazania rigens

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Flowers
Sunflower
Flower beds in park Kolomenskoye (Moscow). Helianthus annuus ‘Teddy Bear’

Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Cosmos
Cosmos bipinnatus pink flower. Taken at Burdwan, West Bengal, India.

Cosmos

Cosmos bipinnatus

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Petunia
Volunteer petunia growing from a sidewalk crack in a city neighborhood in Pittsburgh

Petunia

Petunia × atkinsiana

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus BCBG (02)

Snapdragon

Antirrhinum majus

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Show 2 more
Dianthus
Dianthus chinensis picture taked at 2010-7-31, Oeam-ri, Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea

Dianthus

Dianthus chinensis

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Heliconia
Near Palm Tree House, Woodfordhill, Dominica, W.I.

Heliconia

Heliconia psittacorum

Part shadeSalt: 1 of 5
Flowers

Trees & palms (27)

Shade, structure and fruit

Ghaf
Prosopis cineraria tree known as Khejri in Rajasthani and Hindi

Ghaf

Prosopis cineraria

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Native
Flowers
Sidr
Ziziphus spina-christi growing in Israel

Sidr

Ziziphus spina-christi

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Native
Flowers
Samr
UAE native tree.Vachellia tortilis

Samr

Vachellia tortilis

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Native
Flowers
Tamarisk
Tamarisk tree (Tamarix aphylla) — in southern Algeria.

Tamarisk

Tamarix aphylla

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Native
Flowers
Neem
It is a neem tree in the month of January in Rajasthan state in India in 2025

Neem

Azadirachta indica

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Adapted
Flowers
Frangipani
This Plumeria rubra tree was photographed at Pune.

Frangipani

Plumeria rubra

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Adapted
Flowers
Olive
Wild Olive tree — Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata. Cape Town.

Olive

Olea europaea

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Adapted
Flowers
Moringa
Moringa oleifera. Common names: Drumstick Tree. Horseradish Tree.

Moringa

Moringa oleifera

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Adapted
Flowers
Show 19 more
Washingtonia Palm
A Mexican Fan Palm tree in Enterprise, Alabama.

Washingtonia Palm

Washingtonia robusta

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Adapted
Flowers
Pomegranate
Picture of a pomegranate fruit setting in a flower.

Pomegranate

Punica granatum

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Adapted
Flowers
Mulberry
A picture of Morus alba. This particular tree is the Pennsylvania state champion and can be found at Longwood Gardens.

Mulberry

Morus alba

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Adapted
Flowers
Foxtail Palm
Foxtail Palm at SeaWorld Orlando in Orange County, FL

Foxtail Palm

Wodyetia bifurcata

Sun/part shadeSalt: 3 of 5
Flowers
Bismarck Palm
Bismarckia nobilis (Bismarck palm) in a garden setting

Bismarck Palm

Bismarckia nobilis

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Flowers
Date Palm
Date palms lining a travertine path in a manicured Dubai villa garden

Date Palm

Phoenix dactylifera

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Native
Flowers
Lemon tree
Lemon - fleur et fruit

Lemon tree

Citrus × limon

Full sunSalt: 1 of 5
Adapted
Flowers
Fig
Figs on a branch, grown in Croatia

Fig

Ficus carica

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Adapted
Plant
Guava
Red guava (Psidium guajava) on a black background.

Guava

Psidium guajava

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Adapted
Flowers
Bottlebrush
Melaleuca viminalis

Bottlebrush

Callistemon viminalis

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Flowers
Parkinsonia
Parkinsonia aculeata, trees in flower; naturalised alien invaded, between Boane and Bela Vista, Maputo Province, Moza...

Parkinsonia

Parkinsonia aculeata

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Caution
Flowers
Mango
Mangoes (Magnifera indica) from West Bengal, India. Photo taken by Yogabrata Chakraborty, on June 9, 2022.

Mango

Mangifera indica

Full sunSalt: 1 of 5
Adapted
Flowers
Banana
Banana (Musa acuminata) plant with broad leaves, flower blossom and a forming fruit bunch

Banana

Musa acuminata

Full sunSalt: 1 of 5
Flowers
Traveller's palm
Botanical specimen in Sankyo Garden, Guam, USA.

Traveller's palm

Ravenala madagascariensis

Full sunSalt: 1 of 5
Flowers
Papaya
Developing papaya fruits clustered on the trunk of a papaya tree

Papaya

Carica papaya

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers

Shrubs & climbers (28)

Borders, hedges, succulents and groundcover

Arak
Salvadora persica tree called Peeloo, Jal or Wann in different arid and semi arid areas of sub continent of India and...

Arak

Salvadora persica

Full sunSalt: 5 of 5
Native
Flowers
Hopbush
Dodonaea viscosa (hopbush) shrub with dense green foliage

Hopbush

Dodonaea viscosa

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Native
Flowers
Sesuvium
Sesuvium portulacastrum (flowers and leaves). Location: Midway Atoll, Bulky Dump Sand Island

Sesuvium

Sesuvium portulacastrum

Full sunSalt: 5 of 5
Native
Flowers
Sea Jasmine
Sea jasmine (Volkameria) white star-shaped flower among glossy green leaves

Sea Jasmine

Clerodendrum inerme

Full sunSalt: 5 of 5
Adapted
Flowers
Aloe vera
Aloe vera (habit). Location: Maui, Kalepolepo

Aloe vera

Aloe vera

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Adapted
Flowers
Lantana
Flower and leaves of Lantana camara

Lantana

Lantana camara

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Flowers
Wedelia
Creeping Oxeye (scientifically known as Sphagneticola trilobata) is a fast-growing, mat-forming perennial herb widely...

Wedelia

Sphagneticola trilobata

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Caution
Flowers
Agave
A specimen of a Century plant (Agave americana) in the countryside within the neighbourhood of Mosqueira, north of th...

Agave

Agave americana

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Plant
Show 20 more
Desert Rose
Desert rose (Adenium obesum) with pink flowers and a swollen caudex

Desert Rose

Adenium obesum

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Native
Flowers
Texas Sage
Ornamental Texas sage in bloom

Texas Sage

Leucophyllum frutescens

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Flowers
Crown of thorns
Full bloom during a rainy day

Crown of thorns

Euphorbia milii

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Caution
Flowers
Duranta
Duranta erecta ‘Sapphire Showers’. Common names: golden dewdrop, pigeon berry, and Picotee sky flower

Duranta

Duranta erecta

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Jatropha
Jatropha integerrima, Janakpur, Nepal

Jatropha

Jatropha integerrima

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Caution
Flowers
Plumbago
Blue Serenity in Bloom

Plumbago

Plumbago auriculata

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Ruellia
Mexican Bluebell

Ruellia

Ruellia simplex

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Natal Plum
Carissa macrocarpa (fruit and flowers). Location: Maui, Kahului

Natal Plum

Carissa macrocarpa

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Flowers
Coral vine
ニトベカズラの花（2025年9月 沖縄県石垣市 バンナ公園）

Coral vine

Antigonon leptopus

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Caution
Flowers
Rangoon creeper
Chinese Honeysuckle, Rangoon Creeper

Rangoon creeper

Combretum indicum

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Allamanda
Flowers of Allamanda cathartica in West Bengal, India. Photo taken by Yogabrata Chakraborty, on August 1, 2022.

Allamanda

Allamanda cathartica

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Jade Plant
Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) on May 17, 2018 in Los Altos, California.

Jade Plant

Crassula ovata

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Prickly Pear
Opuntia ficus-indica growing at Pol·lèntia, an archaeological site in Alcúdia, Mallorca, Spain

Prickly Pear

Opuntia ficus-indica

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Caution
Flowers
Pencil Cactus
Pencil Cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli)

Pencil Cactus

Euphorbia tirucalli

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Caution
Plant
Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Ficus Nitida
Ficus microcarpa L.f., Chinese banyan, habitus; Playa Santiago, La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain.

Ficus Nitida

Ficus microcarpa 'Nitida'

Sun/part shadeSalt: 3 of 5
Caution
Plant
Acalypha
Fotografia detalhada de uma folha de Flamengueira.

Acalypha

Acalypha wilkesiana

Full sunSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Passion flower
Flor da paixón, O Grove

Passion flower

Passiflora caerulea

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Flowers
Elephant ear
Alocasia macrorrhiza specimen in the Jardin botanique du Val Rahmeh, Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, France.

Elephant ear

Alocasia macrorrhizos

Part shadeSalt: 1 of 5
Plant

Lawn & grasses (12)

Turf and ornamental grasses

Desert grass
Desert grass and clipped shrubs in a corten-edged bed in a desert-modern Dubai garden

Desert grass

Pennisetum divisum

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Native
Flowers
Vetiver
Ramacham1

Vetiver

Chrysopogon zizanioides

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Caution
Flowers
Lomandra
Taken in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Lomandra

Lomandra longifolia

Sun/part shadeSalt: 3 of 5
Plant
Bermuda grass
Cynodon dactylon (Couch Grass) photographed on a private property in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.

Bermuda grass

Cynodon dactylon

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
Adapted
Plant
Purple fountain grass
Poaceae - Red Fountain Grass; Ornamental plant,beautiful hedge plant,leaves purple,feathery plumes.

Purple fountain grass

Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'

Full sunSalt: 3 of 5
AdaptedCaution
Flowers
Lemongrass
Gardenology.org-IMG 2892 rbgs11jan

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Plant
Pink muhly
Purple muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is in bloom this fall in the National Garden.

Pink muhly

Muhlenbergia capillaris

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Flowers
Mondo grass
Ophiopogon japonicus (Nana dwarf habit). Location: Maui, Kula Ace Hardware and Nursery

Mondo grass

Ophiopogon japonicus

Part shadeSalt: 4 of 5
Flowers
Show 4 more
Zoysia grass
​在一個庭園裡的「臺北草」與造景兼具實際功能的踏腳石等。

Zoysia grass

Zoysia matrella

Sun/part shadeSalt: 3 of 5
Plant
Pampas grass
Pampa grass inflorescences (Cortaderia selloana) in a garden, France.

Pampas grass

Cortaderia selloana

Full sunSalt: 4 of 5
Caution
Flowers
St Augustine grass
Starr-160716-0140-Stenotaphrum secundatum-habit with Quercus sp-Boca Regional Hospital-Florida (29668096745)

St Augustine grass

Stenotaphrum secundatum

Sun/part shadeSalt: 3 of 5
Plant

Water plants (3)

Ponds, rills and water features

Umbrella Sedge
Cyperus alternifolius, Landscape plants of the UAE, Monocotyledonous flower

Umbrella Sedge

Cyperus involucratus

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Adapted
Plant
Water Lily
A flower of the 'Peach Glow' cultivar of hardy water-lily (genus Nymphaea), photographed just after rain at the Brook...

Water Lily

Nymphaea (tropical hybrids)

Sun/part shadeSalt: 1 of 5
Flowers
Papyrus
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, UGANDA

Papyrus

Cyperus papyrus

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Plant
Raised timber vegetable beds with lettuce, tomatoes, chillies and herbs in a Dubai villa garden in winter

Start the vegetable garden

A raised bed is the easiest way to begin

Good soil, sun and a drip line on a timer. Broccoli, cabbage, root crops and herbs go in from October; lettuce and spinach follow in November.

Vegetables for Dubai

In flower or fruiting now

What is at its best in October

46 plants are in flower, fruit or harvest this month, so there is something to cut, pick or simply enjoy.
UAE native tree.Vachellia tortilis
Fruiting

Samr

Vachellia tortilis

A Flame tree against brick building in Mali. Tree is Delonix regia commonly known as Royal Poinciana.
Fruiting

Royal Poinciana

Delonix regia

Wild Olive tree — Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata. Cape Town.
Harvest

Olive

Olea europaea

Foxtail Palm at SeaWorld Orlando in Orange County, FL
In flower

Foxtail Palm

Wodyetia bifurcata

Bougainvillea in full bloom, magenta and orange bracts against a blue sky
In flower

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea glabra

Arabian jasmin, Tunisia 2010
In flower

Arabian Jasmine

Jasminum sambac

A specimen of Ixora coccinea, also known as the Jungle Flame, shot in Miami, Florida
In flower

Ixora

Ixora coccinea

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Brilliant', a clean red flower
In flower

Hibiscus

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Also at it this month

Oleander (in flower),Yellow Bells (in flower),Lantana (in flower),Texas Sage (in flower),Sea Jasmine (in flower),Desert Rose (in flower),Petunia (in flower),Marigold (in flower),Zinnia (in flower),Wedelia (in flower),Crown of thorns (in flower),Banana (fruiting),Bird of paradise (in flower),Heliconia (in flower),Pomegranate (harvest),Guava (harvest),Okra (in flower, harvest),Cucumber (harvest),Curry leaf (in flower, fruiting, harvest),Duranta (in flower, fruiting),Jatropha (in flower),Plumbago (in flower),Ruellia (in flower),Natal Plum (fruiting),Golden Shower Tree (fruiting),Purple fountain grass (in flower),Lemongrass (harvest),Pink muhly (in flower),Mondo grass (fruiting),Pampas grass (in flower),Coral vine (in flower),Rangoon creeper (in flower),Allamanda (in flower),Passion flower (in flower),Sesuvium (in flower),Celosia (in flower),Prickly Pear (fruiting),Water Lily (in flower)

Jobs this month

Planting season opens — the busiest month in the garden

Garden

  • Plant trees, palms, shrubs and climbers now that the cool season has begun
  • Overseed or renovate natural lawns to thicken them for the season ahead
  • Start seasonal bedding displays for winter colour
  • Resume a normal feeding programme for actively growing plants
  • Ease back irrigation frequency as temperatures drop

Pool

  • Chlorine demand starts easing; recheck balance weekly as the routine changes
  • Clean up increased leaf litter as deciduous trees begin to drop

Our tips for October

  • Plant trees, palms and shrubs

    This is the month to do it: warm soil, cooling air and six months of mild weather ahead. Palms and trees such as Ghaf and Date Palm establish fastest now.

  • Buy bigger, not more

    One larger specimen planted in October outgrows three small ones planted in spring, because it skips a year of establishment stress.

  • Start the vegetable garden

    Broccoli, cabbage, root crops and herbs go in from October. Raised beds with good soil and a drip line are the easiest way to begin.

  • Overseed and renovate lawns

    Scarify, top-dress and overseed thin areas while the soil is warm, so the lawn thickens for the season ahead.

  • Sow winter colour

    Petunia, marigold and vinca planted now are in flower for the peak outdoor season.

Watch out for

Common October mistakes

  • Watering on a summer schedule

    As temperatures fall, plants need less water. Taper the frequency over a few weeks instead of changing it overnight.

  • Planting too deep

    Set the top of the rootball level with the surrounding soil. Burying the trunk base invites rot.

  • A late hot spell

    A 37°C afternoon in October can still scorch new transplants. Keep shade cloth to hand.

Keep reading

Guides for this time of year

A Dubai villa garden in spring: frangipani in full leaf and bougainvillea in bloom around a travertine pool under a timber pergola

Planting

The UAE planting calendar: what to plant in Dubai, month by month

Dubai's growing year runs backwards from Europe's: October to March is the cool season and the busy planting window, while April to September is mostly about keeping things alive.

29 Sept 2026 · 5 min read

Lawns hero: a flawless striped seashore-paspalum lawn meeting a crisp limestone kerb edge in a Dubai villa garden

Planting

Paspalum vs Bermuda grass: which lawn suits your Dubai garden?

Paspalum, often sold locally as "Sharjah grass", handles shade and salty irrigation water better than Bermuda, sold as "American grass", which is usually cheaper to install and tougher in full sun.

29 Sept 2026 · 5 min read

Get it done

Want it planted properly?

Our team plants, prepares soil and sets up irrigation across Dubai, and Garden Care keeps it all alive through summer.

Sources

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From AED 500/month

Price depends on your garden's size, pool and complexity. Prices in AED, excluding 5% VAT.

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