October

Landscaping Tips for the Month of October

Planning:

• Assess areas in the garden which need additional planting
• Continue to use garden notes and photographs to plan for future plantings
• Prepare landscape sketches for next season

Chores and Maintenance:

• If rain is lacking continue to thoroughly water trees, shrubs, planting beds and lawn areas, especially evergreens
• Compost fallen leaves and garden debris such as annuals and spent vegetable plants
• Continue to weed, weed, weed
• Complete staking chrysanthemums, water and fertilize
• Lift and store tender bulbs, i.e., cannas, dahlias and gladiolus after first frost
• Core aerate to reduce thatch on lawns
• Mow lawns to 1in. height
• Keep bird feeders filled

Planting:

• Complete planting and transplanting broad-leaved and needle-leaved evergreens before October 15, and water thoroughly
• Plant and transplant deciduous trees and shrubs after leaf fall between October 15 and December 1
• Plant spinach and garlic
• Plant ornamental cabbage and kale
• Complete lifting and dividing iris, lily-of-the-valley and daylilies
• Pot up parsley, chives and rosemary to grow indoors
• Plant bare-root roses
• Continue to plant spring-flowering bulbs; begin planting tulips before month’s end
• Pot up amaryllis, tulips, and other prepared bulbs and store in a cool, dark place until ready to force

Pruning/Fertilizing:

• Complete pruning of rambler roses
• Prune late-flowering shrubs and trees when dormant
• Fertilize deciduous and evergreen shrubs
• Fertilize lawn with 3-1-2 plant food

Indoors:

• Bring in all houseplants before frost
• Hold off on fertilizing houseplants; resume in March