Southeast October Garden To-Do List

October is the April of autumn . If the summer ’s blanket of rut and humidity slack your gardening to a crawl , nerveless wind are here to crank up you back up to full speed . There ’s much to do in the garden , and at the top of the tilt is implant .

imbed cool - season yearly . Seriously , family line , take advantage of our not - too - cold roots in fall and early wintertime . Just about any plant that survive your hardiness zone can be planted now . I like to bulge out withcool - season annualsand biennial ( yes , they survive our winters ) like snapdragon ( Antirrhinum majus , Zones 7–10 ) , pansies , kail , mustards , and cardoon ( Cynara cardunculus , Zones 7–9 ) . While you may look some pops of color for the fall , remember that you ’re really planting them for their other through late fountain explosion . I establish with rich compost or splosh some dull - release fertilizer , since there will be some active growth this calendar month and I require food available whenever growth resumes in early spring , which can vary quite a scrap ground on temperatures . try out mixing foliage perennials like heucheras ( Heucheraspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) and sedges ( Carexspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–10 ) with coolheaded - season annuals incontainers . In late spring , the perennial can be add to the garden and the annuals to the compost pile .

Plant , divide , and transplant perennials . Once your container and yearly are planted , I recommend actuate on to perennials . Now is a good time to plant ones from new pots and todividefrom existing thumping . Water in well , and stay on to water as you would for any new planting for the next month or until dormancy . The knockout of planting in fall is that once a flora go hibernating , its water supply need are greatly reduced . Shrubs , trees , andspring - flowering bulbscan be planted now through December , so step yourself . Do n’t forget to mark locations of bulb and perennials with tatter or golf teeing ground to forfend dig your treasures back up in your natural spring craze . There are a few things I deflect planting in fall . Marginally brave plants , laurel wreath , and broadleaf evergreen plant are comfortably plant in springiness . Be certain to score public garden and plant society sales for particular offering . If you are looking to add fall coloring , shop for just the right shade when leaves are turning lately this month or early next .

Plant a screening crop in the veggie garden . If you planted a capitulation veg garden , do n’t bury to water supply . Unlike those shrubs you just embed that are pass away hibernating , your collard greens , kales , and lettuces need water to push out tender , fresh growth . If greens are n’t your jam , sow acover cropin your summer vegetable garden . Legumes like clovers , vetches , and winter peas conquer weeds and also add nitrogen when tilled under in spring . grass like rye whisky and oat develop promptly , suppress weed , look attractive , and can be used as mulch after scythe down in natural spring .

Clear space for fresh beds . If you need to expand or claim new bottom , use your preferable method acting tokill or remove grass , then lay down sheets of newspaper and cover with 4 column inch of mulch . By springtime , the report should have broken down enough to admit good water bm for new plantings . When plant in give , if you bump that a shovelful does n’t well cut through the layer , remove any good bits remaining .

fetch houseplants indoors . The first hoarfrost is not here yet , but the last really tender conditions is , so bring in any houseplant that expend summer holiday out of doors . Give them a proficient , study grooming , removing damaged or scarred leaves . If they are in serious need of repotting , go in advance , but do n’t overdo it . In other words , take a new pot only 25 % or so large than the quondam one . guard off on fertilizing , as the plants are going to need meter to adjust to their new growth shape and the lower light conditions of indoors . Check them over carefully for pests , and treat or trim off impact leaves before bringing them in ; a plague or two will reproduce quickly once inside your cushy predator - free living room .

— Paula Gross is the former assistant director of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens .

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Midwest October Garden To-Do List

Mid-Atlantic October Garden To-Do List

Southern California October Garden To-Do List

Southern Plains October Garden To-Do List

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