All the Gardening Tasks You Should Do in October

I hope it’s more autumnal where you are—almost everyone I know is still suffering through summer temperatures. Even so, winter is coming, and it’s time to kick your fall cleanup into high gear. Remember you’ll need to be careful to not cause any damage to plants that are still actively blooming and aren’t moving towards dormancy. Still, there’s much you can do this month to build next year’s garden while you’re doing clean up and remediation for fall.

Plant hardy perennials, trees and shrubs

This is the time of year to score big discounts at your local nurseries. They’re trying to clear the space of big items like trees and shrubs for winter, and likely have lots of perennials on their sad plant shelf. Comb through those sad plants carefully, because as long as it’s perennial and has even the slightest bit of life, at half off (or more) it’s likely worth it to stick it in the ground. It’ll look terrible this year, but next year it’ll bounce back. Plant trees and shrubs with wild abandon. Remember that if you’re planting trees and shrubs you want to dig holes three times the size of the root ball and add the right kind of fertilizer to the planting hole. The nursery will tell you what kind of fertilizer to use. 

Buy and plant bulbs 

It’s not too late to buy bulbs for this season: tulips, irises, peonies, daffodils and more. I get emails every day about amazing sales from my favorite bulb houses: Eden Brothers, Brecks and K.van Bourgondien.  But don’t overlook a less-obvious place to score deals on bulbs: your local grocer may have bags of bulbs on sale. As the season progresses, they’ll get cheaper. Once you have the bulbs in hand, get into the garden and put those bulbs in—but first, lay out a plan for the colors, height and bloom time. Remember, bulbs get planted into a hole three times the size of the bulb (a two-inch bulb gets planted six inches deep). 

Divide your perennials

Your irises, peonies, coneflowers, daisies and more are ready to be divided. If they’re outgrowing the space or merely need a refresh, get in there and divide them. Plant the divisions elsewhere or give them away. 

Put the summer crops to bed, and plant vegetables for fall

At some point this month, summer temperatures are going to end, and regardless of heat, the rain is going to sink your crops. Also, if you don’t turn over your garden soon, you won’t be able to get fall plants in early enough for them to establish themselves before winter. I’ve found that in the past, this is more an emotional issue than a functional one for me. I always believe there’s time for one more tomato to ripen; I hate to give up on those unripe peppers. But you’ll likely find, as I have, that the reward of one more semi-ripe tomato is far surpassed by a vibrant and full fall and winter garden. The joy of being able to pull celery, carrots and onions in winter is immeasurable.  So, either get those fall crops into your beds, or consider a cover crop. 

Begin major cleanup

Your yard is, like mine, likely a bit of a mess by now. Crop your overgrown berry vines, prune your berry shrubs. Weed, obviously, and get a last trim on your lawn whether it’s a traditional or eco lawn. You can deadhead your irises, and prune back your peonies, as well as any other spent flowers. I prune my artichokes down to a foot at this point. Cut and take away any seed heads you don’t want seeding themselves (like foxglove, which will spread prolifically). Once you’ve got things cleaned up, start laying in compost and mulch.

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