October Garden Tips
By the Tarrant County Master Gardener Association, Texas Cooperative Extension Office.
Phone 817-884-1944 for answers to any gardening question.
By the Tarrant County Master Gardener Association, Texas Cooperative Extension Office.
Phone 817-884-1944 for answers to any gardening question.
Fall is the best time for putting in new perennials.
The weather is pleasant and the soil is warm in October. New roots begin to grow quickly and continue to grow all winter. Moreover, we usually get more rain in winter to keep the soil moist. Then, in early spring, top growth takes off on the well-rooted plant and produces a larger, well-leafed-out plant, which is well prepared to withstand next summer's drought and heat. It is like getting a full year's jump to plant in fall instead of next spring, with a larger, healthier plant. So check out those fall plant sales - now is the best time to put in new perennials, shrubs and trees.
October Garden Checklist:
October is a good time to
reduce the insect and disease potential in next year's garden. Clean up the
garden, removing all annuals that have completed their life cycle. Remove the
tops of all herbaceous perennials that have finished flowering or as soon as
frost has killed the leaves. Prune
damaged or diseased branches from shrubs and trees in late fall or early
winter. Dispose of debris to minimize disease carryover to spring. Clean up around perennials. Dispose of
leaves and stems on the ground, which can harbor disease or provide hiding
places for pests.
Plant a cover crop of legumes in used sections of the flower and vegetable garden. In early spring, till under to provide extra nitrogen to new crops.
If you have saved seeds of your favorite plants, allow them to become air dry, then place them in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Be sure to label each packet carefully. Remember, seed from hybrid plants will seldom resemble the parent plant.
Fall is a good time to test your soil, especially to determine the pH, which tells you the acidity of the soil. Learn the correct fertilizer blend to apply for the best growth in your garden.
Make
Compost: Start collecting leaves for the compost pile.
Mulch plants to protect roots and conserve moisture.
Vegetable seeds:
Plant seeds now of Swiss chard, beets, collards, garlic, leaf lettuce, parsley
Winter Color:
Prepare beds for planting
pansies and other winter color when the soil has cooled. They need a
well-drained soil and exposure to at least a half-day of sun. In addition, look
for started plants of alyssum, aster, calendula, dianthus, pinks, sweet
william, flowering cabbage, kale, pansy, petunia, phlox, poppy, snapdragon,
stock, viola. Planted now, they will usually provide a riot of spring color.
Perennials:
Cut back perennial herbs to encourage well-branched growth next year. A plant or two of parsley taken from the garden will do well in a sunny window. Chives, sage and thyme will also do well.
There is still time to divide and reset such perennials as phlox, violets, hollyhocks, irises, day lilies, and Shasta daisies.
Roses:
Lightly prune hybrid teas, floribundas and modern garden roses and fertilize them in early fall for an abundant display until hard frost.
Bulbs:
October through November is an excellent time to purchase bulbs while you still have a good selection in the garden center. They may be planted at any time with the exception of tulips and hyacinths. Chill tulip and hyacinth bulbs in the refrigerator until mid or late December before planting. Put them in mesh, paper or ventilated bags in the lower part of the refrigerator during storage.
Plant bulbs in well prepared beds so the base of the bulb is at a depth that is three times the diameter of the bulb. In sandy soil, set slightly deeper and in clay soils less deeply.
If you are planning to save caladium tubers for another year, dig them in late October, and allow to dry in a well ventilated but shady area. After 7 to 10 days remove leaves and dirt, then pack in dry peat moss, vermiculite or similar material for storage. Pack tubers so they do not touch each other. Dust with all-purpose fungicide as you pack. Place container in an area where temperature won't drop below 50 degrees F.
Christmas Houseplants:
Keep Christmas cactus in a sunny spot where night temperatures can be kept below 65 degrees F. Buds will drop if you allow night temperatures to go above 70 degrees F or if you allow the plant to become excessively dry. They should also be kept in total darkness from 5:00 pm until 8:00 am for about 30 days in October to initiate flower buds.
Re-flowering Poinsettia. The poinsettia is a photoperiodic plant, meaning that it sets bud and produces flow
ers as the autumn nights lengthen. The plants may naturally come into full bloom during November or December, depending upon the flowering response-time of the individual cultivar.
To time the bloom to coincide closely with the Christmas holiday: Start October 1 - keep the plants in complete darkness for 14 continuous hours each night. Move the plants to a totally dark room, or cover them with a large box overnight. During October, November, and early December, the plants require 6 to 8 hours of bright sunlight daily, with nighttime temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees F. Temperatures outside this range may delay flowering. Continue the normal watering and fertilizer program.
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EXTRA ITEMS:
Guest Speakers: Would your group, club or association like a guest speaker? The Master Gardeners provide free speakers on a number of home-related topics, such as gardening, water conservation, insects, houseplants, and many more topics. Call the Tarrant County Extension Office, 817-884-1944, and ask for the Speaker's Bureau.
Fort Worth Garden Conservancy Tour Oct. 14