October Gardening Chores

Lawns

• Continue to replant or establish cool-season lawns such as fescue.
• The mowing height for fescue should be  approximately 2½" for fall and winter cutting.
• Broadleaf weeds like dandelions can be easily controlled during October.
• Mow and neatly edge warm-season lawns before the first killing frost

Ornamental Plants

• Plant cool-season annuals like pansies, ornamental cabbage or kale, snapdragons and dusty miller when temperatures begin to cool.
• Peonies, daylilies and other spring-flowering perennials can be divided now.
• Dig and store tender perennials like cannas, dahlias and caladiums in a cool, dry location.
• This is a great time to visit Binding Stevens and check our selection of trees in fall color.
• Many perennials can still be planted now and usually the selection is quite nice.
• Plant fall mums and asters, keep them watered during dry spells. Don't crowd them, they take a couple of years to reach maturity.
• Check and treat houseplants for insect pests before bringing them indoors and repot root-bound plants.

Fruits & Vegetables

• Dig sweet potatoes, harvest pumpkins and winter squash.
• Remove green fruit from tomato plants when frost threatens.
• There is still time to plant radishes and mustard in the fall garden.
• Remove all debris form the garden to prevent over-wintering of various garden pests.
• Try a cold frame for spinach, lettuce and various other cool-season crops susceptible to winter frost.
• Start new planting bed preparations by adding lots of soil amendments and organic matter.

Water Gardens

• Take tropical water garden plants indoors when water temperatures near 50º F.
• Close the water garden for the winter by placing hardy plants in the deeper areas of the pool. 
• Stop feeding your fish.
• Cover water gardens with bird netting to catch dropping leaves during the winter months.