October in the Garden

Checklist

• Water basins should be removed from around trees and shrubs to avoid excessive pooling of water as the rain begins.
• Feed turf with slow release (winterfeed) fertilizer.
• Top dress established beds with organic material such as your own compost, (composted) manure, or earthworm castings.
• Continue to hunt for slugs and snails.
• Begin to rake up plant debris and leaves; avoid heavy pruning of most perennials until late winter.
• Fall clean up of spent vegetable plants begins this month and will augment your compost pile.
• Lawns can be sodded or re-seeded. Add organic material to the topsoil. 

Planting Guide

Vegetables & Herbs

• Transplant seedlings or purchased plants of radish, kale, lettuce, spinach, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, peas, fava beans, broccoli, cauliflower, beets and carrots.
• Plant leeks, peas and garlic. Plant a salad pot of red leaf, butter, and romaine lettuces; curly endive; and arugula.
• Harvest carrots, and end of summer season vegetables.
• Enjoy: carrots, lettuce, very last of summer crop

Bulbs and Flowers

• Plant bulbs for spring bloom, such as daffodils, freesias, crocus, scilla, lirope, muscari, allium, and Dutch iris.
• Plant pansies and violas. Snapdragons can be planted for both fall and spring color.

Trees and Shrubs

• Start planting your wish list of trees and shrubs.