October Gardening Checklist
October is a season of change – and we are well and truly into fall. And the weather can be rather unpredictable and yet glorious at the same time. When I lived in Minnesota, I fell in love with October. The heat was gone. The nights cooled. It was perfect weather for shorts and a sweatshirt – and we generally had snow by the end of the month. Here in Colorado the weather is similar – cool nights, warmer days, sweatshirt weather on the horizon, and chilly once the sun goes down. It's time to put the stock tank pool to bed for the winter. And it's time to start thinking about putting the garden to bed as well.
For those of you in warmer parts of the continent without such harsh changes, you may not think about making many seasonal gardening changes, but you can, too. Even if your temperatures don't change much, declining levels of sunlight trigger changes in your plants – and you can adjust your actions accordingly.
Here's an October checklist – a few things to do, and a few things to take off your list, too.
Change out Planters for Fall
Here in Colorado our average first frost date is approaching rapidly – and some in the mountains have already had snow. With the chilly nights, it's time to think about changing out the planting schemes in large planters, if you have them. My front porch pots are planted out with perennials which will be very happy in the ground as long as I plant them while the soil is still warm. And I'll be replacing them with some shrubs or evergreens which will overwinter happily – and then those will be planted out in the landscape in the spring.
Plant Perennials
As I said, those perennials in my front porch pots will be planted out in the ground. And I'm assessing any holes in my planting schemes – frankly, a few beds that could use a good refresh as well. Fall is a fabulous time to plant perennials as the soil is warm and there is still plenty of time for them to get established before winter comes. Just be sure to water those plants 2-3 times per week for the first month or so unless you have some rain. They will need a boost to stretch out their roots before the soil cools.
Continue Weeding
By this time of year I am so tired of weeding. But there are many perennial and annual weeds that bloom in the fall including Canada Thistle, one of my nemeses. I use a hori hori knife to get below the soil's surface to cut out the thistle – or weed after watering or after rain – to remove as much of the root as possible. The good news: by allowing a weed to grow almost to the point of setting seed, you may actually deplete its sugar stores enough that it won't survive the winter. There is still time for it to try to grow again before it gets too cold, and expending that energy now may weaken it enough to die over the winter.
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Watering Outdoor Pots
If you have outdoor pots that are planted out with annuals, you can probably cut back on the watering – but don't stop completely. You'll notice that your plants may require less water as the temperatures cool. That's because the soil can better hold moisture at cooler temperatures. But don't forget them altogether!
Stop Deadheading
All summer we have been deadheading to encourage more blooms, but it's time to stop now – those plants need time to set seed. And those seeds make your garden a winter storehouse for birds and other wildlife. I even stop cutting flowers for bouquets from most plants – except dahlias. I want more flowers to become more seedheads. So allow the flowers to fade and enjoy the changeover as your plants form seedheads and prepare a feast for our feathered friends.
Stop Feeding Perennials
If you have been feeding your plants, it's time to stop for the season. Rather than encouraging growth and flowering, it's time to encourage your plants to store sugars in their roots and stems. So stop using that seaweed feed for the season, and give yourself and your plants a rest.
Cut Back on Watering
You also won't need to water your plants as frequently as the temperatures cool. Water won't evaporate as quickly – and it's easy to overwater on these cooler days and nights. Check your soil for moisture levels and water when it's dry as opposed to on a schedule. And don't forget to account for rains!
Cut Back on Mowing
You'll find that your lawn starts to slow its growth, too. Continue to mow through the fall, but not as often. Just like with watering, use the grass as a guide. And remember: never mow off more than ⅓ of the grass height. So if you want your lawn to be 3" tall, wait until it is 4" tall to mow.
at the close…
Anne of Green Gables got it right when she said, "I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." It's my favorite month! Here's to a good one for us all!
Cheers!
Angela
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