October Gardening Tips

  • October is an ideal time to plant new trees, shrubs, perennials and spring-flowering bulbs.  The temperatures are cooling, but the soil is still warm and roots can get established before the spring growing  season.  It’s also a great time to move or divide existing plants.
  • Consider laying down soaker hoses in new beds or in beds where you’ll be replenishing your mulch.  Soaker hoses are an efficient way to water.
  • Stop pruning evergreens – this could spur new growth that won’t have time to harden off before frost.
  • Start switching out your seasonal annuals.  Get pansies and other fall and winter annuals established.  Update your container  plantings as well.  Logan’s has a great selection of container  plants, large and small, for sun and shade.
  • Prepare your houseplants to move back inside for the winter.  Check carefully for  insects and disease.  Treat as needed before moving indoors.  Be sure they’re inside or protected if temperatures go below 50 degrees.
  • Clean, clean, clean!  Remove any diseased plants or debris – don’t compost them!
  • Take advantage of the falling leaves in your yard to replenish your garden.  As leaves fall, chop them up with your mower and either compost them or use them as mulch in your vegetable and flower gardens.
  • Monitor your fall vegetable garden for aphids, cabbage worms and other pests.  If you can’t control them by mechanical means – a spray of the hose or manually picking them off – consult the Logan’s Garden Shop team for remedies, including organic solutions.
  • As your vegetable garden winds down, consider planting a cover crop such as clover or alfalfa that can add nitrogen and other  nutrients into the soil.
  • If you plan to reseed your cool season lawn, continue to water as needed.  Rake off the leaves that fall on new turf and don’t fertilize again until November.