by Lydia Holley October 2, 2023
October is usually one of the nicest months to get out in the garden, and there are several chores you can do over the next several weeks.
Planting bulbs and sowing wildflower seeds are one of the more pleasant tasks, and you will be glad come spring you took the time and effort. Some plants can be divided now. These include ajuga, daylilies, irises, and liriope. Spider lilies and oxblood lilies can be divided after they have finished blooming. If you planted caladiums and want to save the tubers, you should dig them up now for storage. They will need to be dried for several weeks before put into sand or sawdust.
The soil has cooled sufficiently for the roots of trees and woody shrubs to grow. That is why now is also an ideal time to plant those. Keep them watered if rain is not sufficient. Many trees will go dormant in fall, so you can prune them going into winter. Be sure to coat any cuts or wounds on oak trees with paint to decrease your chances of getting oak wilt. When pruning any plant, be certain to sanitize your pruners in between cuts.
When the weather cools, plant pots filled with pansies, ornamental cabbage, and ornamental kale.
In the vegetable garden, plant beets, collards, garlic, kale, lettuce, mustard, radish, spinach, Swiss chard, and turnip seeds. If you have not already done so, you may also plant broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, English peas, and parsley, although these traditionally should have been planted earlier. However, because our temperates are still so warm, if planted within the next few days, they may grow sufficiently before we get our first frost.
Since the weather has moderated somewhat and will continue to do so, enjoy the fall temperatures. Just make sure chores are not the only reason you go outside. Take a break every so often to admire the plants which bloom in fall.
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