October tasks part one

September is behind us and along comes one of my favorite months. October is a wonderful time of year. Falling temperatures and falling leaves usher in one of the most rewarding times of the year for outdoor work and relaxation. Throughout the South, fall color in the garden and woodland dominates the landscape. October sunsets grace the western horizons like no other time. Football is in full swing. But along with the benefits come obligations. Herewith are some suggestions for things to do in October in and around the garden.

First comes this word of caution: if you are thinking about pruning certain shrubs and trees now, it is best not to do it! Why? Pruning stimulates the production of new leaves which will soon become very susceptible to an upcoming freeze. You will do better to wait until these plants go completely dormant in the winter or early spring to shape up these plants.

Now is an excellent time for soil testing. Autumn is a good time to take soil samples in your lawn and garden and to apply lime if the recommendations call for it. A soil test will measure the acidity or alkalinity of the soil and the levels of the major elements needed for plant growth: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and others.

If you have an amaryllis plant outside, now is the time to dig it up. Remove the leaves after they dry down and store the bulb in a cool, dry place. Repot and water at Thanksgiving for a striking indoor Christmas presentation.

Dig other tender, summer-flowering bulbs, corms, and tubers and prepare them for winter storage. These include caladiums, gladiolus, daffodils, etc.

Dig, divide, and replant perennials such as daylilies, shasta daisies, irises, Black-eyed Susans, achillea, coreopsis, etc. now. Plant seeds of biennials such as Sweet William (dianthus).

Early October is a great time to plant collards, cabbage, lettuce, onions, broccoli, and cauliflower from transplants. Seed turnips, kale, radishes, mustard, rape, and spinach.

Plant container-grown woody ornamentals in late October after temperatures fall. By planting them then, considerable advantage can be taken of the soil’s remaining warmth. Root growth will increase rapidly, and when new top growth begins in the spring, the root system will already be established to supply the plant’s requirements of food and water. A small container-grown shrub planted in the fall will quickly catch up and even surpass the growth of a much larger plant set out later. Because of the milder climate in the South, the fall and winter months are excellent for setting out permanent plants. Root activity continues at temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s even though top growth has ceased. When planting is delayed until spring, little time remains for plants to become established before the summer stresses of heat and drought arrive.

October is also a good time to apply a pre-emergence herbicide on your lawn to prevent the germination of cool-season weeds (winter annuals) and to consider your strategy for correcting certain lawn diseases. A couple of these are take-all root rot and large patch, both caused by soil fungi. Visible in the summer, they should be treated in the fall when night temps consistently reach between 55 and 65 degrees. Consult your lawn care provider for details.

Enjoy your October in the garden!

Tim Lewis is a Georgia Green Industry Association Certified Plant Professional, gardening writer, former Perry High School horticulture instructor, and former horticulturalist at Henderson Village and Houston Springs. He and his wife, Susan, own and operate Lewis Farms Nursery located on Hwy 26 two miles east of Elko, where he was born and raised. He can be reached at (478)954-1507 or timlewis1@windstream.net and at LewisFarmsNursery.com.