October Garden Chores

 

Things You Should Do In October

It's October and things are starting to slow down—but it doesn't mean your garden should too! Planting, composting, tool maintenance and further planning are just some of the tasks that you can do this month. Keep reading below for more details on general October gardening chores.

Get the Last of Your Harvest
Continue harvesting the last of this year's crops. Aside from the summer veggies, you'll busy harvesting your nuts, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and winter squash. Beets, cauliflower and other cool-weather crops should also be picked whenever they're ready.

Keep Preserving Your Harvests
Preservation methods such as jam-making, pickling, freezing and drying are all great in prolonging the shelf life of your harvested produce and herbs. You can also save the seeds from your best harvests by drying them well, placing them inside airtight jars and keeping them in a cool, dark and dry place.

Clean Up & Compost
Clear your garden by getting rid of spent plants and fallen leaves. Dead plants that are free from disease can be used to create a new compost pile. Add in the leaves as well—just be sure to shred them beforehand so they can break down much faster.

Amend Your Soil
Once your garden has been cleared of dead plants, you can start amending your soil with compost, mulch and other nourishing materials. Consider planting some cover crops to add more nutrients in the soil. Another great tip is to have your soil tested so you'll know the right amendments to use.

Start Planting New Trees & Shrubs
Yes, you read that right. You don't have to wait for spring to plant for the next gardening season; in fact, planting at this time will give your trees and shrubs a nice head start. Having them experience mild autumn and spring temperatures will prepare them for the hot summer to come, while the winter rains will make them more capable to deal with tough weather conditions. You can start planting as soon as the weather gets cool—just remember to water your plants well until the ground begins to freeze.

Plant Your Spring Bulbs
If you long for a beautiful spring garden next year, then you should sow your bulbs now so you can watch them blooming in spring. Make sure to follow the planting depth indicated on the seed packet.

Relocate Your Plants for a Better Layout
Got plants that you've always wanted to move? This is the perfect time to do it as they will experience less shock from the transplanting.

Protect Your Plants from the Frost & Freeze
Be ready to cover your plants at night whenever there is a chance of an early frost or freeze. Cover your autumn flowers to prolong their blooming period, move your tender plants into the greenhouse, and take your citrus trees inside your home and position it in a bright area.

Maintain Your Gardening Tools & Equipment
It's important to take good care of your tools and equipment if you want them to last longer. This October, don't forget to sand, sharpen and oil your various garden tools so you can count on them for years to come. Your power equipment will also need some good cleaning and oiling.

Continue Planning for Next Year's Garden
Keep working on your garden journal and list down the seed varieties, layout designs and DIY gardening projects that have inspired you so far. The more you fine-tune your plan, the more you'll be prepared for next year.