October Gardening Calendar – 2023
As the gardening
calendar turns to October the fall season begins to unfold with beautiful
cooler weather and the start of seasonal color changes. October brings gardener’s
wonderful cooler weather to get out in our garden and perform our October
gardening calendar tasks. I would like to mention a few gardening tips for the
month of October.
Plant
New Shrubs, Trees, and Perennials: Have you been thinking about replacing
a few shrubs that just did not quite get established in the landscape or just
need to be replaced, or planting a new shade or flowering tree that you just
cannot live without in your landscape? Now, is the time to start thinking about
making that purchase? The fall season is an excellent time to add new shrubs, trees,
and perennials to your landscape. This time of year will let your newly
planted shrubs, trees, and perennials to get a head start by developing and
establishing new root growth in the soil. Garden centers advertise Fall is For
Planting with several fall sales and advice. Plant a tree to help combat
Climate Change.
General Watering Tips
For Newly Planted Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials:
A landscape can be designed to fit a plant's water
requirements. Failing to water properly
is a common error among gardeners. All plants
should be moist before planting, plants get all of their moisture and nutrients
from the original root ball until establishment. Shrubs should be watered slowly at the base
of the plant for 20 to 30 minutes. This
method waters the area of the root ball and the surrounding soil. The water will move deeply into the soil encouraging
the roots to grow deeper into the soil, instead of along the surface. Roots that grow along the surface are more prone
to wilting. Trees should be watered slowly
for 20 to 30 minutes; the watered area should reach the tree's branch
circumference. This procedure encourages
the roots to grow deeper and throughout the soil. Newly planted trees and
shrubs should be watered twice a week during the fall and winter months; and newly
planted trees and shrubs should be watered three times a week during the spring
and summer months. Continue to water your newly planted trees and shrubs for
the first year and half or 18 months. After that water once or twice a week. After
the third-year or fourth-year watering should be during periods of drought.
Fall
Color Annuals and Fall Bulbs: Fall color annuals and bulbs are ready
to purchase at your local retail garden center. Add a little color to your
garden this season by planting these wonderful, low maintenance beauties. Mentioned
in the fall color annuals newsletter, you can still plant annuals in a
container even if you have a garden. Fall color containers make wonderful
accent pieces to your patio, deck, front porch, or any outdoor living space. Purchase
your fall bulbs early for spring color. A few varieties can be used for forcing
color for the holidays. For More Information On Fall Color Annuals: Click Here. For More Information On Fall Bulbs: Click Here.
Houseplants: Start
planning where you will place your Tropical Plants that spent the summer
outdoors. When the temperatures start shifting to towards 55 degrees at night
start planning on bringing them in. Trim back, if necessary and inspect for
insects. Before bringing indoors it is a good idea to spray with Neem Oil or
Horticultural oil a week before coming inside. I prefer to use horticulture oil
on my houseplants. Neem Oil and Horticultural oils are environmentally friendly
and will give your Houseplants a nice shine along with killing any insects.
Neem Oil or Horticultural Oil are both recommended to spray on Houseplants.
Read the label for the dosage for houseplants or tender plants. Check out our
selection of Tropical Plants.
Fall Vegetables: If you are planning to start a fall vegetable garden early, October is the best
time to purchase your vegetable starts. Broccoli, cabbage, collards, beets,
brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, garlic, onion, kale, spinach will grow
excellent in the fall. Don’t have room to plant a fall vegetable garden,
but would like to grow your own vegetables? A planting container 16 inches or
larger can be used to grow fall vegetables. For More Information on Fall
Vegetables: Click Here.
Mulching: Rake up all the old
mulch under your crabapples, red tip photinia, roses, and replace. This will
help prevent diseases on next year’s new leaves. The plants listed are prone to
diseases. With all new plants planted in the fall it is highly recommended to
add 4 – 6 inches of mulch. Mulch acts as an insulator in fall and winter and in
spring and summer will help keep your plants cool.
Composting: Fall is a good time
to start composting all the leaves falling off the trees. Composting is a natural form of recycling that
continually occurs in nature. Studies have shown that by home composting you
can divert an average of 700 pounds per household per year from the waste
stream.
In addition to the leaves, you can compost kitchen scraps such as, apples,
carrots, onions, potatoes peels, tea leaves, coffee grounds, yard clippings, or
anything else organic. Your planting beds and garden plants will enjoy the
treat. For my information on composting Click Here.
Weeds: Apply a pre-emergent
weed killer to lawn and shrub bed areas. The pre-emergent works by killing the
weed seeds from germinating. The application will last about three months or
longer. Check package label for how long the product last and when to reapply
next application. This product does not kill existing weeds, existing weeds
need to be pulled or spray with a weed killer.
Halloween
Decorations: Halloween is only 9 weeks away and we have wonderful Halloween
Decorations and Home Decor. Order early for on time for your Halloween Party.
This year Halloween is on Tuesday, October 31. To View all Halloween Decorations,
Click Here.
The
Blogger, Cheryl Ann Meola, has several Links to share with you featuring her fine
art plant photography and merchandise. Click on the links below.
Fine Art America Portfolio.
Society6 Portfolio. Society6 has more Household merchandise.
For
Cheryl Ann Meola’s Shutterstock Stock Photography.
For
Cheryl Ann Meola’s Adobe Stock Photography.
For
Live Herbs and Live Plants.
Cheryl
Meola © 2022.
