October To-Do List

Every month, our horticulturist is filling you in on what needs to be done each month in the garden. Let's see what we need to do in the garden for the month of October.

1. Plant bulbs: Plant spring blooming bulbs in early October.

2. Divide bulbs: Divide summer and fall blooming bulbs after the foliage has yellowed.

3. Lift Tender Bulbs: After the first frost, dig up dahlias, gladiola, cannas and begonias. Wait for the foliage to yellow and store.

4. Lower the blade: Lowering the blade again on the lawn mower as temperatures cool even more. You should be mowing quite short the last time or two. Long grass going into winter provide bedding and cover for rodents, and can lead to snow mold next spring.

5. Plant trees: If the weather doesn’t turn cool quickly, you can still plant container grown or balled and burlap trees and evergreens in very early October. Make sure they get plenty of water to establish roots before the soil freezes

6. Water evergreens: Keep watering your evergreens right up until the ground freezes. They will continue to draw and store water until the roots are frozen.

4. Lower the blade: Lowering the blade again on the lawn mower as temperatures cool even more. You should be mowing quite short the last time or two. Long grass going into winter provide bedding and cover for rodents, and can lead to snow mold next spring.

5. Plant trees: If the weather doesn’t turn cool quickly, you can still plant container grown or balled and burlap trees and evergreens in very early October. Make sure they get plenty of water to establish roots before the soil freezes

6. Water evergreens: Keep watering your evergreens right up until the ground freezes. They will continue to draw and store water until the roots are frozen.

7. Water shrubs and trees: Keep watering shrubs and trees thoroughly in fall. They will reduce water intake on their own to prepare for dormancy, so don’t decide for them when to reduce by withholding water. Plants that keep growing late in autumn, such as rhododendrons, evergreen azalea, boxwood and holly, are susceptible to early freeze damage. They need to be well watered until the ground freezes to protect them from damage.

8. Protect trunks: Young tree trunks and shrubs can be protected from damage by mice, rabbits and deer by installing a barrier. For trees, slit plastic sleeves are available at garden centers. Or wrap with hardware cloth. A chicken wire fence installed around shrubs with stakes works well for young shrubs.

9. Amend the vegetable beds: Dig compost into the vegetable beds. You can dig shredded falls leaves into the beds too.

10. Start another compost pile: Shred your fall leaves to start another compost pile. Add weed free garden waste.

11. Clean out containers: After frost has killed your container plants, empty containers into the compost pile. Clean and store clay and ceramic pots in the garage so they don’t crack. Remove crusted minerals from clay pots by soaking in water for several hours. Scrub with steel wool and dish soap if needed.

12. Cut back perennials: If you prefer neat garden beds going into winter, you may cut back perennials after a hard freeze. Ideally, perennial foliage should be left to over winter. They tend to hold leaves and snow which gives your perennials extra protection in the winter.

13. Dig a new bed: Start a new garden bed in autumn when you are not so busy with spring chores.

14. Clean up fruit: Clean up and remove any fallen fruit. Decaying fruit will harbor pests and disease.

15. Prune damaged wood: Remove any dead or damaged tree and shrub limbs from summer storms.

16. Rake leaves: Rake up and remove fallen leaves. Shred them for compost

17. Mulch: Apply a thick layer of mulch around plants after the ground freezes. This will prevent cycles of freeze and thaw between now and spring. Use bark mulch, shredded leaves, evergreen boughs or straw. Be cautious about using hay bales widely available this time of year, they are usually full of weed seeds

18. Protect tender roses: Prepare your winter rose protection to put in place when the ground freezes. If you winter tip, bury them before the ground freezes.

19. Store hoses: Drain garden hoses and sprinklers and store for the winter. Shut off water to the outside spigots.

20. Store garden chemicals: Chemicals and sprays should be stored over 40 degrees.

21. Get the bird feeders out: Clean out the bird feeders, stock and hang them.

22. Prune Oak and Walnut: By end of August through October it is safe to prune Oak and Walnut Trees.