The Gardener's To-Do List for October

 

Robert Frost's poem, "October", perfectly evokes the images and sentiments of the month that is upon us.

       
O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

This poem is believed to be in the public domain.

Now that some of us are beginning to bundle up against the chill, let's go garden now. Here are some gardening suggestions for each region.

Northeast Region

• Winterize your irrigation, but keep it available for use. You'll still need to water your plants.
  
• Continue dividing your perennials.
  
• Plant fall annuals, if you haven't done so already.
• Protect your roses, removed dead or damaged parts, add extra mulch around the graft union.
  
• Add finished compost to your garden beds.
• Mulch your beds for cold protection.
  
• Turn your compost pile, again.
• Winterize your gas-powered tools. 
• Pull up stakes and tomato cages, clean and remove to storage overwinter.
  
• Clean up garden debris.
• Begin harvesting your root vegetables.
• Dead-head perennials.
• Save seed, where possible, for planting next spring.
• Cover your hoop houses and cold frames.
• Store containers that might crack in winter in a protected, dry area.
  

Mid-Atlantic

• Plant fall annuals, if you haven't already. 
• Plant spring-flowering bulbs.
• Winterize gas-powered tools.
• Remove garden debris.
  
• Clean hand tools and add a protective layer of oil to prevent rust.
  
• Get your vegetable starter plants in the ground, if you haven't already.
  
• Fertilize winter vegetables and cold-season annuals.
  
• Remove spent plants and compost them.
• Begin harvesting root vegetables, unless you intend to store them in the ground.
•  Add a protective layer of mulch to your garden.
•  Pull up stakes and tomato cages, clean and remove to storage overwinter.
• Turn the compost pile.
• Cover your hoop houses.
•  Winterize your irrigation, but keep it available for use. You'll still need to water your plants.

Southeast

• Cut and dry flowers and herbs for later use.
• Collect and dry seeds for next year's planting, but leave some for the birds.
  
• Plant your spring-blooming bulbs. 
• Plant cool season annuals.
• Divide your perennials.
  
• Harvest fruits and vegetables.
• Stop fertilizing trees and shrubs. 
• Turn your compost pile, again.
• Keep weeding!
  

Midwest

• Plant fall annuals, if you haven't already. 
• Winterize gas-powered tools.
• Remove garden debris.
  
• Clean hand tools and add a protective layer of oil to prevent rust.
  
• Fertilize winter vegetables and cold-season annuals.
  
•  Add a protective layer of mulch to your garden.
• Turn the compost pile.
• Cover your hoop houses.
•  Winterize your irrigation, but keep it available for use. You'll still need to water your plants.

Pacific Northwest

•  Continue harvesting fruits and vegetables.
  
• Turn the compost pile.
• Winterize garden tools.
•  Clean hand tools and add a protective layer of oil to prevent rust.
• Add protective mulch to your garden.
• Winterize your irrigation, but keep it available for use. You'll still need to water your plants.
• Direct-sow root vegetables and leafy salad greens.
  

 Pacific Coast

• Continue harvesting fruits and vegetables.
• Keep the garden clean of spent plants and weeds.
• Gardeners in the southern region should plant spring-flowering bulbs.
• Gardeners in the warmer region can continue the second round of planting for warm-season vegetables and annuals. 
• Continue composting, turning the compost occasionally.
• Add finished compost to the garden.
• Mulch the vegetable and flower garden.
•  Clean hand tools and add a protective layer of oil to prevent rust.

Southwest

• Continue pest control.
• Plant cacti and succulents, trees and shrubs. 
• Plant cool-season annuals.
  
• Continue regular garden maintenance.
• Remove garden debris and compost it.
  
• Turn the compost pile.
• Add finished compost to the garden.
  
• Continue irrigation, checking the system for maximum efficiency.

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