Gardening tasks for October

• Start planting bulbs in containers for holiday color. Use amaryllis, paperwhites, and hyacinths.
• Move non-cold hardy plants inside at the end of the month. Be sure to check for insects and disease. Give all a good blast from the water hose.
• Plant pansies, sweet william, poppies, calendulas, snapdragons, violas, dianthus, pinks, flowering kale and cabbage.
• Sow wildflower seeds for spring color. Make sure seeds are in contact with the soil.
• Buy and plant spring blooming bulbs. Be sure to use bone meal covered with 2” of soil.
• Plant onion, garlic and leeks. Remember to plant 1015 onions on the 15th.
• Test the soil in the vegetable garden and add what is suggested.
• Root prune any trees or shrubs you plan to move in the spring.
• Keep bird feeders clean and filled.
• Take cuttings from herbs for windowsill gardens.
• Plant a cover crop of legumes in unused beds or till in compost. Till legumes under in early spring for a boost of nitrogen.
• Plant grapevines.
• Plant Swiss chard, collards, kohlrabi, mustard greens, rutabaga, spinach, cilantro, dill and strawberries.
• Overseed lawns with rye grass.
• Divide and transplant iris, day lily, phlox and violet.
• Prune damaged or diseased branches from shrubs and trees in late fall or early winter and destroy Do not add to compost.
• Turn and water compost piles.
• Mulch all beds.
• Cut back perennial herbs to encourage well-branched growth next year.
• Dry or freeze cuttings or root them for indoors.
• Plant trees and shrubs.
• Clean up the gardens.
• Pull spent annuals.
• Watch for blackspot on roses.
• Start raking leaves and put on the compost pile.