October in the Garden
We can't say this enough-- One of the major reasons why some plants do not make it through winter's cold weather is because the soil is too dry. Please remember to check your plants and water if they are dry. This is most important for plants under tall trees and the house eaves.
If you haven't started conditioning your Christmas cactus and poinsettias, do it soon or they will not bloom in time for the holidays.
There is still is time to get the spring-flowering tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocus bulbs into the ground this month. Amend the soil and make the planting hole three times their diameter
Add fallen leaves, old vegetable plant parts and grass clippings to your compost pile. You can even dig the waste into the garden soil now. By next spring it should be broken down to compost. If your grass has been treated, do not add it to the pile or dig it into your garden.
Keep up the fight with your weeds. One weed can give birth to thousands of viable seeds.
It isn't too late to add that spot of fall color with mums, asters, Michaelmas daisies, and other fall-flowering plants.
Prepare tender plants for wintering--digging out the bulbs or storage or bringing the plants inside if you want to save them.
October is a harvest month, so be sure to harvest vegetables at their peak of flavor and before they are damaged by frost or cold temperatures. After harvesting, be sure to plant cover crops to renew the vegetable garden soil
Look for new shrubs and trees to be planted this fall.
When you are done using your garden tools, clean, sharpen, and oil them so they will be ready to go next spring.
Save some Trick 'n Treat candy for yourself!
For more detailed information on gardening and lawn care in your area, contact:
http://www.yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu or your county extension office
Iowa Master Gardener Program (Call us with your questions 10am to noon and 1-4:30pm, M-F--515-294-3108 or contact us via e-mail: hortline@iastate.edu)
Your local garden center.
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