October is good time for planting bulbs. You need to do it before the frost gets too bad. It's even better if there is no frost. That way you get a very good show in the spring. Squirrels can be a problem though – they like eating tulip and crocus bulbs. I have not tried this yet but on Gardeners World they suggested that before you plant your bulbs you should soak them in tonic water for about 20 minutes. Make sure the tonic water has quinine in it, as it's this that the squirrels apparently can't stand. Or you can try chicken wire. Dig the hole and put the bulb in, put back a third of the soil, put the chicken wire in then put the rest of the soil back. The bulbs will happily grow through the wire and the squirrels can't get to them.