Gardening Notes for October - Things to do


Plant deciduous trees and shrubs. The soil is still warm, and most species will produce roots into December, better preparing them for the stress of next summer.

Remove annuals that appear tired or are frosted. They can be replaced with an attractive bed of pansies. During the winter, lightly mulch the pansies with straw. Dispose of annuals that are dead or dying.

Mulch garden beds after ground freezes - especially roses. Azaleas and Rhodys should be mulched with an acid material such as pine needles or oak leaves.

Early October is the last chance to take any root cuttings of tender plants, such as Plectranthus, Coleus, and Geraniums. Other plants that are not of hybrid origin can be overwintered by collecting the seed and stored in the lettuce draw of the refrigerator.

Cut peony stems to the ground. Last chance to separate and transplant perennials. After first frost, cut back all perennials once they have finished blooming. Remove the foliage as they collapse with frost, since it eliminates surfaces for slugs and insects such as Iris Borer to lay their eggs, helps reduce fungal disease for next year and eliminates winter cover for mice, moles and voles.

Winterize roses by lightly pruning. Mound soil around the base of the plant and mulch heavily. For climbers, remove canes from support; lay them on the ground and peg them down.

For containers, empty and clean any valuable containers to prevent damage from freeze-thaw cycles of winter. Wash clay containers inside and out to remove salts from fertilizers. For plastic and other weather resistant containers, add annuals that are more tolerant of frost for autumn color, i.e. Chrysanthemums, asters, Ornamental Cabbage, Kale or even Red Stemmed Willows.

Prepare tuberous rooted plants for winter. Those such as Alocasia, Colocasia, Dahlia, Canna, and Musa (Banana), which have a storage-type of root system can be dug, wrapped in newspaper, and stored in a cool dry basement. Once frost blackens the foliage, cut back the tops to 6 inches and dig carefully, then brush or wash off soil and let dry for two weeks or so to cure. Stash in a dry spot like unheated basement or crawl space around 40-50 degrees. Dig out caladium bulbs for winter storage. (Loosen soil around plant and lift entire plant out of ground, let the bulbs dry out in a cool, dark, rustproof area. Remove foliage and leaves when they drop off. After a few days, shake off dry soil and let bulbs dry out. Pack in dry sand or peat moss.)

For the vegetable garden, it is time to harvest potatoes and squash. Carrots, radish, parsley and other cool season crops can be harvested as needed. Areas of the garden that are bare can be mulched with compost, manure (fresh or composted) or seeded with winter rye. Be prepared to cover tender plants such as tomatoes and peppers in case of an early light frost. Keep row covers or old sheets handy for this purpose. Remove any flowers and small fruits on melon, squash, pumpkin, eggplant and tomato plants that won't have time to ripen before the first frost. This will help the remaining vegetables mature faster.

Evaluate Oaks for Bacterial Leaf Scorch. If the leaves have turned brown in August and September, have an arborist evaluate the trees for spring treatments.

Keep Christmas cactus, clivia and orchids outside. They need cool weather to set buds. Bring the rest inside before a hard frost. Give each pot a good soaking of water with dish detergent or horticulture oil to kill pests.

Finish ordering and start planting spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, garlic and tulips. Loosen soil to a depth of at least 6 inches and add bulb fertilizer when planting.