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Gardening Tips for October, Ideas, and Techniques

Table of Contents

Introduction to Gardening Tips for October: October is a good time to get soil tests for your lawn, landscape bed, and vegetable gardens. It gives enough time to get results and apply what is needed to prepare for next spring’s growing season. October is the fabulous time you see all the colors changing in the garden. October is usually a sign of the end of the growing season and also means that you will be busy composting crop residues, saving seeds, and preparing winter soil.

October is one of the best months for planting trees, shrubs. When you plant in the fall you improve the survival rate of plants as it gives time to the basic system to establish yourself in the winter months. When spring comes, the plant is by its new environment and is ready to add strong leaves, new upper growth, and lots of flowers. Remember, you have still time to plant autumn vegetables. Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Peas, Swiss Chard, Lettuce, Radish, Spinach, Turnip, Onion, Parsley, Mustard, and Carrots are all crops that perform well at this time of year. 

Gardening tips for October, vegetable, flower, fruit, and herbs gardening in October, house plant care, greenhouse care, and general plant care in October

Gardening Tips for October
Image Source: Pixabay

Vegetable gardening in October 

  • Remove the dead and yellow leaves from the Winter Brassica and put them in a compost box. If left to the plant, they can encourage fungal diseases and pests.
  • If your idea is to grow peas and beans next year, start preparing the site by digging trenches and filling them with fertilizer. 
  • First, cut the Pumpkin and Squash before the frost. If they are left out, they quickly become mushy. 
  • When you harvest your cabbage, leave the root in the ground and cut across the stem to encourage the flush of small leaves.
  • Protect the heads of the autumn Cauliflower, such as the white step, protect the outer leaves from frost by wrapping them around you and protecting them from the string. Alternatively use a cloche or wool.
  • Cut back the yellow Asparagus leaves within 5 centimeters of the earth.
  • Reuse the old grow bag by cutting over the top and sowing salad crops late. If crops are grown under glass, under a cloth, or inside a polytunnel, they can be grown in winter.
  • Direct seed Beetroot, Bok Choy, Spinach, Peas, Mustard, Radish.
  • Sow Broad Beans like Aquadulce Claudia for the early crop next year. Can be sown directly or in pots for planting next month.
  • Plant fruit bushes and Raspberry canes this month or next month. Use rose trees and bush manure in backfill soil to help the establishment.
  • Dry pumpkin and squash if not done in advance.
  • Sketch where you have planted different vegetables in your garden in the spring. It will come in handy next spring so that when you plant you can rotate your crops and help prevent disease.
  • Beetroot, Parsnip, and Carrot can be covered with straw or a thick layer of leaves and released into the ground, as needed, during winter. This may not be an option in heavily populated areas.
  • As Tomatoes finish their production, cut-off plants pick up any debris and put them in the trash, or take them to landfills.
  • Make some Chives and Oregano pots to bring indoors and use all winter long.
  • In areas not affected by frost, it is still time for harvesting and dry Oregano leaves.
  • Divide and replant the Rhubarb clumps that have become congested.
  • Once the Asparagus fern is hit with a frost and turns brown, cut them to the ground.

In case you miss this: Gardening Tips for May, Ideas, and Techniques

Harvest Cabbage
Image Source: Pixabay

Flower gardening in October

  • Some plants such as Hibiscus and Mandevillas can be taken to your home in winter. 
  • The Tulips provide more spring color than almost any other plant and are best planted in October. 
  • Cleaning the garden in the fall should include removing the top of any diseased plant but can stand for healthy perennial, decorative grass, and some annual winter interest, to catch snow and provide seeds for birds.
  • Plant evergreen shrubs and conifer hedges while the soil is still hot. 
  • Remove any pot saucer and lift the pots to prevent waterlogging in winter. 
  • Transplant deciduous shrubs that are in the wrong place or overtaken by their current position.
  • Collect seeds with hardy perennials, such as Astrantia, Achillea, and Red Valerian, and sow directly. 
  • Take hardwood cuttings from decorative trees and bushes. 
  • Mulch soil with annual and herbal plants dies back and large areas of soil appear. You can use leaf mulch. 
  • Dig out any weed sown under the decorative plants. Make them compost in addition to roots and seeds.
  • After the flowers are finished, prune the rumbling and climbing roses, and tie them in the trunks before the autumn winds cause damage.     
  • Clean the fallen rose leaves to prevent diseases like black spots from overwintering. To avoid the spread of harmful fungi, do not compost the leaves.
  • Clean plants from the paths to maintain access around the garden.
  • Cut out perennial plants that have died. Alternatively, leave dead leaves in place to shelter friendly wildlife.
  • Add fertilizer or organic matter to the soil as distribution and renovation activities are underway.
  • Move the Alpine Troughs to a covered porch or protect them from rain, ask for help picking them up to avoid back injuries. Pick Alpine regularly, remove any autumn debris and cover the dead patches with extra encouragement to encourage their regrowth.
  • Make sure you have finished bringing all the tender plants to the hot greenhouse or conservatory for winter.

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Mandevillas Flower
Image Source: Pixabay

Fruit gardening in October 

  • Remove the net from Strawberry beds, clean, and let the birds in and this point as they will remove the insects. Remove the dead and yellow leaves. 
  • Just prune the canker-infected branches and twigs on Apples and Pears, but leave the Cherries. Antibacterial tools to prevent the spread of disease.
  • Collect all the dead leaves from under the trees and make manure to get rid of disease seeds.
  • Check the trees for Woolly Aphids it should look like a fluffy white overgrowth on the bark.
  • Move the citrus trees away from the cool draft and radiator at a bright, frost-free position indoors. Reduce water in winter but do not let the plant dry completely.
  • Clean the straw from around the base of Strawberry plants to increase ventilation. Cut back old leaves to encourage fresh new growth.
  • To check on the Apple ripening, gently lift them in the palm of your hand or pull them soft they should come away easily.
  • Remove fruits with any disease from branches or land so that they do not affect next year’s crops.
  • Remove the net from fruit cages to allow birds to catch and eat any insects hidden there.
  • Cold hardy fruit trees such as Honeycrisp and Cortland Apples, Reliance peaches, Superior plums, mostly Pawpaws, and American Persimmon can still be planted in October. Continue the water until the ground freezes hard.
  • Clean the fallen apples, apple leaves with spots, overripe vegetables, and Tomato plants that had disease problems this year and dispose of them from your property. Many diseases and insect pests in winter in plant materials and good sanitation will reduce pest problems next year.

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Harvest Apple
Image Source: Pixabay

Herbs gardening in October 

  • When the soil is still hot, pick up and divide the overcrowded herbs.
  • With the cold months approaching, the seed is no longer the best time to start new herbs from the outside, but if you have a sunny window, you can grow leafy culinary herbs indoors pretty much throughout the year. Coriander, Parsley, Dill, and chives are some of the best options.

Houseplants care in October 

  • Reduce watering in houseplants as the day decreases and growth slows.
  • When central heating comes, stand tropical house plants on a wet gravel tray to counter the moisture loss. Grouping them can also help create more humid microclimates.
  • If not done last month, make a ready-made hyacinth bulbs pot. This way you will give them flowers for Christmas or New Year.

Greenhouse care in October 

  • Line greenhouse glazing with bubble insulation, as night-time temperatures begin to drop. 
  • Water plants are less frequent as conditions cool down and days become shorter. 
  • Sow sweet peas in dark pots for early flowers next summer. 
  • The plant produced Narcissus bulbs made for aromatic inner flowers in about 10 weeks. 
  • Spread chopped onions and garlic on greenhouse staging to dry well before storing. 
  • Inspect the plants you bring to the greenhouse for any pests and diseases in winter. 
  • Attach guttering to the greenhouse and install a water butt, to make good use of the autumn rain.  
  • Clean fallen leaves from greenhouse guttering to ensure water butts are filled. 
  • In a hot conservatory, you can still use biological pest control. 
  • Transfer the tender plants to the greenhouse to protect them from early frost. Make sure there is enough space between keeping them well airy and reducing the risk of diseases.
  • Check any plant you are bringing in for insects like aphids.
  • Continue removing any fallen or dead plant material to keep the growing area free from fungal diseases.
  • Set up your greenhouse heater in case of an initial frost.
  • Greenhouses can be insulated using plastic bubble wrap. This will reduce winter heating bills, but ensure polythene is attached in such a way that the amount of light blocked by strips of tape, etc. can be minimized, as the envelope itself will reduce the light level to some extent.
  • Check that the greenhouse heater is still working. Get electric or gas heater service if necessary.
  • The dump down becomes unnecessary as the month progresses. It is better to water or moisten the floor at the beginning of the day so that the greenhouse dries up by evening.

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Greenhouse Care
Image Source: Pixabay

Trees and shrubs care in October 

  • Remove any Gypsy insects, Bagworms, or Eastern tent caterpillar egg mass or spray them with commercial gardening oil to suppress them.
  • After two or three hard frosts or when the leaves start to turn brown, cut the perennial herbs and leaves.
  • If there is a shortage of rain, continue to water trees, shrubs, bedding, and lawn areas well. Keeping the newly planted evergreen spring in water is especially important.
  • The honey-fungal toadstool begins to appear in late September and early October, indicating possible infection areas. However, at this time of year many harmless, Saprophytic fungi also appear, living purely on dead materials and posing no threat to garden plants. If plants look healthy then it is unlikely to cause concern.
  • Keep an eye on fungal diseases like Grey mould or powdery mildew. Although less common on shrubs than weed plants, they can still cause problems when the weather is favorable.
  • Cultural controls are more effective at this time of year. Harvesting to increase ventilation, and immediate removal of affected leaves, flowers, or fruits is crucial. When harvesting, take the opportunity to inspect branches for symptoms of infection. Small cankers, diebacks, and rotten hollow stumps are removed before they spread in the center of old bush bases.

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Bagworms
Image Source: Pixabay

General plant care in October 

  • Extract the straw of barley, which is kept in the pond in spring to discourage Algae, once it turns black. 
  • Empty ceramic and shiny pots that are not frost-proof and store them in a shed in winter. 
  • Cut the autumn fruit Raspberry to the ground after harvest. 
  • Collect canes and plant support that is no longer in use, and store them indoors in winter. 
  • Regularly hunt snails to reduce overpopulation in winter, especially on damp evenings. 
  • Make sure your conifers are ready for winter. Longer varieties may need to be staked, and more delicate species should be moved to shelters away from dry, winter winds.
  • A net pond to prevent the leaves from falling into them. If you need to clean the weed of the pond, keep it by the pond for a day so that wildlife can escape back into the water.
  • If the soil is dry, give your garden the last good water before the ground freezes.
  • Use the last of dry weather to paint the sheds and fences with guards before winter arrives.
  • Create a cool frame to protect young plants from extreme winter weather.
  • Check the stored onions and garlic and remove any rotting bulb immediately. The bulb’s neck is usually the first area to rot. Use onion bags to improve airflow.
  • Check the stored potatoes and remove those that are rotting. 
  • Once the plants become inactive, it’s a good time to pick up and move whatever you want to move.
  • Pick up the pots with bricks or pot feet for winter to prevent waterlogging.
  • Add the mulch or grass cutting leaves to your lawn and in your compost pile either an existing or a new one.
  • Apply a thick layer of compost to enrich your soil for spring plantation.
  • Cut back and distribute spending perennial Phlox Asters.
  • Cover the compost bins with plastic saps after the rains start.
  • Clean birdhouses and bird feeders.
  • Cut old berry canes and tie new cans to support wires. Now it’s easy to identify old canes they’re turning brown.
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Author: Jagdish

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