October Garden Tips

Cooler weather is now here! We are finally venturing out to our gardens again, wanting to spend time working and improving our yards. If you haven’t already experimented with vegetable gardening, this is your year! If you do not have an area in your beds for veggies, you can try growing them in containers. Make sure they are receiving enough sun. I also challenge you to try rainwater harvesting this year. Your city should have information on purchasing them locally. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, there are many online resources for making rainwater capturing barrels. Many cities are also offering rebates.

THINGS TO PLANT

Flowers: Ajuga, Alyssum, Bluebonnet, Butterfly Weed, Calendula, Candytuft, Carnation, Chinese Forget-Me-Not, Clarkia (Godetia), Cornflower, Dianthus, Daisy (English and Painted), Euryops, Forget-Me-Not (Myositis), Gazania, Indian Blanket, Liatris, Nasturtium, Pansy, Penstemon, Petunia, Phlox (divaricate and paniculata), Obedient Plant (Physostegia), German Primrose (Primula obconica), Salvia farinacea, Sedum, Snapdragon, Stock. Flower

Seeds: Alyssum, African Daisy, Bluebonnet, Calendula, Columbine, Coreopsis, Cornflower, Cosmos, Daisy, Delphinium, Hollyhock, Larkspur, Nasturtium, Pansy, Petunia, Phlox, Pinks, California Poppy, Sca biosa, Snapdragon, Stock, Sweet Pea, Viola, Wildflowers. Bulbs: Allium, Amarcrinum, Calla, Autumn Crocus (Colchicum), Cooperia, Daylily, Dietes, Hardy Cyclamen, Spider Lily (Hymerocallis), Liriope, Louisiana Iris, Ipheion, Lily, Lycoris, Oxalis, Monkey Grass, Rain Lily, Scilla, Watsonia. * Purchase Tulip, Crocus Hyacinth and Daffodil bulbs to pre-chill.

Vegetables:

Early- Mid Month: Arugula, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chinese Cabbage, Kohlrabi.

Mid-Late Month: Carrot, Endive, Lettuce, Spinach, Turnip

All Month: Beets, Chard, Collards, Garlic, Kale, Mustard, Multiplier Onion, Radish. Dig sweet potatoes before first frost.

Herbs: Borage, Burnet, Caraway, Catnip, Celeriac, Chamomile, Chervil, Chives, Comfrey, Coriander, Cumin, Dill, Fennel, Fenugreek, Lemon Balm, Mexican Mint Marigold, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Santolina, Winter Savory, Sorrell, Thyme, Yarrow.

Fruit: Strawberries

TASKS IN THE GARDEN

Fertilize: Fertilize existing beds of iris with well-rotted manure or a balanced fertilizer. Reduce houseplant fertilizer by ½ for winter.

Water: Water areas as needed.

Transplant: Divide and transplant crowded perennials. Dig and store caladium bulbs. Dust with fungicide. Prepare Soil: Mulch gingers and other tropical that overwinter outdoors to retain warmth and moisture and to control weeds. Falling leaves make autumn a good time to start a compost pile. Shred (or mow) leaves to speed decomposition. Turn compost pile periodically and keep it moist.

Lawn Care: Fertilize with 3-1-2 ratio fertilizer. In newly plugged lawns, sow 8lbs. of ryegrass per 1,000 sq. ft. to help hold soil. The seed grass will make a bright green carpet until spring when hot weather will kill rye. Not recommended for established lawns. Mow every 5-7 days, leaving the clippings on the lawn.

Diseases/pests to look for: Check for cabbage loopers in the garden; spray with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Make a second treatment for brown patches on lawns with a history of the disease.

Prune: Prune shrubs as needed, but save major pruning for the winter. Remove dead and damaged wood from shrubs and trees. Make cuttings of tender plants before frost.