October
Monthly Garden Tips
The to-do list is shorter this month, but the tasks are no
less important. Try to tidy up the garden before cold days
arrive. Here are a few other tips to help you get your own
garden ready for bed:
- The frost is not on the pumpkin yet- why rush through
nature’s festive season? Celebrate every brilliant late
bloomer, colorful gourd, dancing leaf, textured seed head,
and fiery sunset. Autumn’s generosity is to be savored.
- Collect dried plant material from your garden,
roadsides, or vacant fields and create a fall themed wreath.
- Bring in any houseplants that remain outside. Cut back
on feeding and watering. (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Cut back perennial foliage after a killing freeze. For a
wildlife-friendly garden, cut back any plants that had
disease problems during the growing season, but leave stems
and seed heads that will provide food and shelter for birds.
- Rake up and remove any leaves on your lawn. It is
important to remove dead leaves because over time they will
form a dense mat that smothers your grass.
- Clean and oil garden tools before storing for winter.
- Before you put away your mower, drain gasoline. It’s
also a good time to have the blade sharpened and balanced.
- Use hardware cloth to wrap around the base of small
fruit trees and roses. This will protect them from rodents.
- Transplant deciduous trees and shrubs after the
leaves have fallen.
- Pot up amaryllis bulbs now for indoor blooms
during the holidays.
- Hill soil to a height of 8 to 10 inches around roses for
winter protection. Mulch after the ground freezes.
- Save packets of partially used seeds in airtight
containers in a cool dry place.
- Plant deer resistant spring flowering bulbs such as,
Daffodil, Camassia, Dutch Iris, Narcissus, Hyacinths, and
Alliums for glorious early spring color.
- Dig and bring in cannas, dahlias and gladiolus. Dry,
clean and store in a cool location free from frost.
- Pick bagworms from evergreen shrubs. This will eliminate
a spring hatch from over-wintered eggs.
- Clean up fruit tree and small fruit plantings.
Sanitation is essential for good maintenance. Dried fruits
or mummies carry disease organisms through the winter to
attack next years' crop.
- Fall is an excellent time for taking soil samples in
your lawn and garden. Soil tests will measure the pH of the
soil, organic matter content and the levels of some of the
major elements required for plant growth, such as calcium,
phosphorus and potassium. Obtain soil test kits from Penn
State Cooperative extension. Call 412-473-2540
Return to Top
|
