Monthly Gardening Tasks - October

If you want to have Hyacinths in bloom for the holidays, they must be refrigerated for four to six weeks before they are planted.

Plant, divide and reset perennials

Prune

Fertilize

Plant your wildflowers

Add woody plants, and keep watered regularly

DO NOT prune your Wisterias now

Plant pansies in full sun or light shade

Harvest pecans and DO NOT fertilize your Pecan trees

Watch for fall webworms on your pecan trees

Lay new sod at the end of the month and water regularly

Watch out for spider mites

To grow your own Coleus, Impatiens, Copper plants or Geraniums for next spring’s garden, take cuttings from these plants now

Begin to plan and build new planting areas

YOUR WINTER GARDEN

An autumn garden is a glorious sight, especially with the weather finally cool enough to encourage one to stay outside to savor the colors and scents of fall. Plant Mums in any color for a traditional look that should last into mid-November. Pansies bloom from fall into winter and survive several degrees of frost; they grow 6 to 9 inches high. Generally, pansies with flowers in solid blue or yellow hues are the toughest. Also consider ornamental peppers, ornamental cabbages, and kale for a truly unique effect. Ornamental grasses are striking in the fall and don't forget that fall is a good time to get shrubs and trees in the ground. Take advantage of the cooler weather and rework that tired summer garden!

WINTER FERTILIZING

Plants differ in their fertilizer requirements at different times so cooler weather signals a change needed in fertilizing. Fertilizers contain 3 main nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K), which are represented by the 3 numbers noted on the fertilizer container, for example: 5-10-5. Nitrogen promotes leafy plant growth and lush leaves. Phosphorous promotes root development and flower production. K, or potassium, promotes disease-resistant healthy flowers and is always helpful. Consider the numbers before choosing your winter fertilizer. Look for colorful blooms and a good root system for new bedding plants, which means choosing a higher middle number for winter than you would in the spring. For existing bloomers, trees, and shrubs, select a fertilizer high in phosphorous, such as 0-10-10. Winter vegetables do better with 5-10-10; new bedding plants could use an infusion such as 10-52-10. Read labels carefully to be guided to the right fertilizer for the job!

BULBS

Buy enough bulbs to make an impact.
Have enough variety that something is in bloom all through the bulb season.
Buy quality bulbs.
Pick the best possible sites.
Choose your bulb type according to the look you want.
Meet the bulbs chilling requirements.

BEST BULBS TO PLANT

Allium
Alstroemeria
Amaryllis
Anemone
Calla
Cooperia
Dietes
Hemerocallis
Iris
Ixia
Leucojum
Lilies
Liriope
Lycoris
Ornithogalum
Oxalis
Ranunculus
Tritonia
Watsonia

SEEDS TO PLANT THIS MONTH

Alyssum
Arctotis
Bluebonnet
Calendula
Cornflower
Delphimium
Gerbera
Nasturtium
Pansy
Petunia
Snapdragon
Stock

BEDDING PLANTS TO PLANT THIS MONTH

Agapanthus
Ageratum
Chrysathemum
Cosmos
Dahlia
Petunia
Portulaca
Verbena

VEGETABLES

Last chance to put out in the ground by mid October

Beets
Chinese cabbage (celery cabbage)
Collard seeds
Garlic
Lettuce
Parsley
Swiss chard

For a slightly different look to your garden, mix vegetables and herb plants in the landscape, rather than segregating them to their own separate garden.

PLANT THE FOLLOWING THIS MONTH

Arugula – seed
Beets – seed
Broccoli – seed/transplants
Brussels Sprouts – seed/transplants
Cabbage – transplants
Cauliflower – transplants
Celery – seed/transplants
Chard – seed/transplants
Endive–seed/transplant
Garlic – cloves
Kale – seed/transplants
Kohlrab – seed/transplants
Mizuna – seed/transplants
Leeks – seed
Lettuce – seed
Radishes – seed
Spinach- seed/transplants
Turnips – seed/transplants