October Gardening Tasks: Crucial Chores to Accomplish This Month
Autumn is a busy time for gardeners across the United States, as the changing season brings its own set of tasks tailored to local climates and plant needs. Here's a breakdown of October gardening activities by region:
**Denver/Colorado (Mountain West Region)**
Gardeners in Denver should clean out vegetable beds, pulling weeds and removing debris, before replenishing the soil with compost. Mulching is also recommended to retain moisture and protect roots from upcoming frosts. Support any remaining plants, such as tomatoes and peppers, with stakes or cages, and feed heavy feeders with compost or balanced fertilizer to boost their late growth. Preparing the garden for colder weather by tidying beds and preparing soil is a typical October activity in Denver [1].
**Western Oregon (Pacific Northwest)**
October marks a transition period in Western Oregon, where gardeners start preparing plants for winter. This includes raking leaves and debris, planting spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses, and planting garlic for harvest next summer. Pruning certain roses (tea and floribunda) to around 3 feet height is recommended to prevent winter damage, but climbers should not be pruned at this time. Protect young, thin-barked trees from sunscald by wrapping their trunks late in the month, removing the wrap in spring [2].
**Central/Eastern Oregon**
In Central and Eastern Oregon, if the ground remains warm and there is no snow, newly planted perennials, trees, and shrubs should be watered deeply every 6 to 8 weeks to prevent drying out. Late October is still a suitable time for planting trees and shrubs that benefit wildlife [2].
**Zone 8 (Southern US states such as parts of Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia)**
October is a prime planting time for fall crops before the first frost, typically in November or December. Gardeners should start planting cucurbits like squash and cucumber outdoors. Direct sow southern peas and heat-tolerant herbs such as basil and rosemary. Start seedlings of brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower) indoors for transplanting in the fall garden. Some may begin planting Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, and rutabaga outdoors in preparation for cooler weather [3].
**Northeast**
In the Northeast, gardeners should protect plants with mulch and covers, plant cool season vegetables, clean up yard waste and compost it, and bring tender bulbs in for winter. Trimming back and tidying up ornamentals and perennials is also a common task in October [4].
**Northwest, Northern Rockies and Plains, Upper Midwest, Southwest, South Central States, Southeast, Central Ohio Valley**
Gardeners in these regions should harvest last cool weather vegetables, mulch and protect plants from frost as needed, and prune certain plants to promote growth and prevent winter damage. Planting spring flowering bulbs, such as tulips and daffodils, is also a common October task [4].
**Southwest, South Central States, Southeast, Central Ohio Valley**
In these regions, gardeners should harvest warm season vegetables, pull out spent annuals, and plant new perennials. Fertilizing the lawn is also recommended [4].
**All Regions**
Collecting seeds is a typical activity in October for those who garden. Harvesting vegetables and fruits is often part of gardening tasks in October. Southwest, Southeast, and South Central States may also plant roses and fruit trees [4].
It's important to note that the specific tasks on the October gardening to-do list depend on one's location. Finding a region-specific October checklist can provide helpful ideas for gardeners across the United States.
[1] https://www.extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-and-garden/gardening-in-october-17164 [2] https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/fall-garden-chores [3] https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/plants/vegetables-fall-garden [4] https://www.extension.org/pages/80363/october-garden-chores-for-your-region#.W5QZ5_mMKUk
In the Pacific Northwest, home-and-garden enthusiasts start preparing plants for winter by planting spring-flowering bulbs and garlic for harvest next summer. Meanwhile, gardening in October for those in the Southwest, South Central States, or Southeast often includes planting warm season vegetables and pulling out spent annuals. Regardless of location, gardening activities in October typically involve harvesting vegetables and collecting seeds to prepare for the upcoming season, thus contributing to one's lifestyle and home-and-garden upkeep.
