Planting, transplanting, watering, planting spring bulbs, and slug control head the list of October gardening projects. Fall is the time to begin getting the garden ready for winter, so what you can accomplish in the garden this month will definitely help cut down on maintenance the rest of this fall and winter. Plus, it is best to accomplish these tasks while the weather is still reasonably good.
- Plant spring flowering bulbs. Start by bulking up with naturalizing bulb such as snowdrops, crocus, muscari and scillas before planting tulips and narcissus.
- Start your paper whites and amaryllis bulbs for them to be in flower in time for Christmas.
- Return your planters and hanging baskets to Port Kells Nurseries for storage till the time is right for refilling.
- Rake fallen leaves.
- Move tender plants like pelargoniums, brugmansia, fuchsia, phormium and tibouchina into the greenhouse or a frost free place for winter.
- Lift dahlias, wash off tubers and store them in a frost free place for winter.
- Wrap the trunk of your hardy banana tree to protect it over winter.
- Plant new trees and shrubs.
- Get your hedges trimmed by a professional to give them a crisp edge.
- Harvest the last zucchini and squash before frost. Brussel sprouts, carrots, cabbage and turnips can be picked later.
- Feed lawns before winter with 6-3-20 or 5-3-15 fertilizer.
