October in the Garden
The best time to garden
Happy October! As the leaves turn vibrant shades and the air becomes crisp, it's the perfect time to enjoy the beauty of fall in our gardens. Here’s what you can focus on this month to keep your garden thriving and get prepared for winter.
Pumpkins, gourds, and apples are everywhere we look in October. Sunflowers, coneflowers, roses, and chrysanthemums are in their glory. It's time to cozy up and start to really prepare for the colder months. But there is still so much more gardening to enjoy before that happens!
1. Fall Planting
October is ideal for planting perennials, trees, and shrubs. The cooler temperatures help roots establish before winter sets in, and make gardening much more comfortable. Also, it's a great time for end-of-season sales in garden centers!
October is also an excellent time to plant bulbs for color next spring. With less heat and harsh sun, and more rain, the ground is softer so it's easier to plant them as deep as they need to go. Pro tip!: Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes over any disturbed soil after you've planted to keep the squirrels from digging up and eating your bulbs. Believe us, they know exactly what you are doing when you are digging around in your yard!
Consider adding native plants that will provide food for local wildlife. Check out this link to search for plants that are native to your area, and that support specific types of wildlife.
2. Harvest Time!
Don’t give up and neglect to harvest your late-season crops! Pumpkins, squash, and root vegetables are ready for picking, and greens and lettuces are still keeping us well fed. Enjoy the fruits of your labor, and consider saving seeds for next year! Here is a comprehensive guide on how to save seeds, but even though there is a lot of info here, don't be intimidated. In most cases, saving seeds is as simple as collecting, washing, and storing!
3. Know Your Expected First Frost Date
Knowing when your first frost should happen will help you know when you need to harvest green tomatoes or any other frost-sensitive crops like lettuces, flowers, or peppers. Check your dates here so you can plan for the last of your fall harvest.
4. Prepare for Winter (zones 8 and below)
As the weather cools, it’s time to start prepping your garden for winter. Here are some critical tasks.
Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch around perennial plants to protect roots from frost and freeze/thaw cycles that can make them heave out of the ground and expose their delicate roots. This is becoming more common as the climate change and seasons become more irregular. Fallen leaves are great free mulch!
Protect: Place stakes around younger or more sensitive plants and then wrap burlap around the stakes to prevent windburn and frost damage.
Cut Back: Trim any dead or diseased foliage to prevent pests and disease from overwintering.
5. So Many Leaves
It's tempting to clear all those leaves away, but leaving them on the ground can greatly benefit your garden ecosystem. A natural layer of leaves provides essential insulation for the soil, protecting beneficial organisms like earthworms and microbes during the colder months. This organic matter also contributes to soil health as it breaks down, enriching it with nutrients for spring growth. Additionally, fallen leaves can serve as a habitat for overwintering insects and other wildlife, fostering biodiversity in your garden. Embracing this seasonal gift not only enhances the beauty of your landscape but also supports a thriving, sustainable garden.
What we are doing in the garden in October:
Harvesting: Winter squashes, gourds, pumpkins, beets, carrots, rhubarb, chard, radishes, cosmos, coneflowers, sunflowers, roses
Planting: Garlic, roses, strawberries, blueberries, hydrangeas, spring bulbs, peonies
Tasks: Curing potatoes and setting aside seed potatoes for next year, pulling out or cutting down spent plants, taking notes on the season's successes and failures, covering garden beds for winter
Read more about October gardening tasks in your zone here!
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
