A pumpkin patch lying in wait for Halloween.
October Garden Chores
There are many types of funky pumpkins.
In This Issue
Get Planting & Transplanting - Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs - Saving Dahlias
Saving Glads, Cannas & Tuberous Begonias - October Lawns - Garden Beds - Weeds & Bedding Plants
Perennials - October Roses - Fall Veggie Gardening - Seasonal Planters - Composting Wisdom
Houseplants in Winter & Saving Tropical Plants - What to Prune in Fall - Collecting Seeds
Cleaning & Putting Stuff Away - Prepping For Winter - Bananas & Palm Tree Protection
Plant of the Month: David Viburnum
Saving Glads, Cannas & Tuberous Begonias - October Lawns - Garden Beds - Weeds & Bedding Plants
Perennials - October Roses - Fall Veggie Gardening - Seasonal Planters - Composting Wisdom
Houseplants in Winter & Saving Tropical Plants - What to Prune in Fall - Collecting Seeds
Cleaning & Putting Stuff Away - Prepping For Winter - Bananas & Palm Tree Protection
Plant of the Month: David Viburnum
Happy Thanksgiving Canada!
Fellow Gardeners..
My super scary Jack-o'-lantern will ward off evil spirits for sure.
Hello Fellow Gardeners,
October is all about reaping the last of the season’s delicious harvest, brilliant fall foliage that knocks your socks off and a whole lot of pumpkins. What’s with all the pumpkins? Sure they ripen this month but what is their allure and why do we persist in carving them into jack-o'-lanterns? It all started in Ireland in the early 1600’s when the legend of Stingy Jack began. Stingy Jack, as folklore has it, was a miserly, cantankerous blacksmith. He had the audacity to invite the Devil for a drink but instead of paying for it, he convinced the devil to shape-shift into a coin to pay the bill. However, the sly and stingy Jack nicks the coin and places it in his pocket that also contains a silver cross. The crucifix prevents the devil from returning to his original form. To be released, the devil agrees to leave Jack alone for a year and vows he will not go to hell upon his death. Because of that deal, when Jack died, he had nowhere to go since he didn’t belong nor was he welcome in heaven. The devil took pity on Jack wandering forever in eternal darkness, so he tossed Jack a lump of burning coal to light his way. To make a lantern, Jack used a turnip to hold the fiery piece of coal and the first jack-o'-lantern was created. The people of Ireland and Scotland eventually made their own versions of Jack’s lantern to ward off Stingy Jack and other evil spirits. They carved grotesque faces into turnips as well as potatoes and beets. When Irish and Scottish immigrants came to America, they found that pumpkins were plentiful and much easier to carve. Thank goodness for that innovation as a carved turnip just doesn’t have the drama or the impact of big old orange chubby pumpkin. As with previous years, at least one jack-o'-lantern will sit at my front door, just to ward off Stingy Jack and his evil pals. It’s Halloween after all and you never know what lurks in the shadows! Here’s to a spirited October, a fun Halloween and for us Canadians, a fabulous Thanksgiving. Cheers, Amanda 
A bountiful centrepiece for Thanksgiving dinner.
October's Floral Arrangement
October 2025
A display of pumpkins, hydrangeas, fall asters and chrysanthemums. For a numbered guide to the specific flower names and for other arrangements go to Monthly Flower Arrangements
Add Fall Colour
There are many wonderful trees, shrubs and vines that bring colour and excitement to fall gardens. Click on the pic for a list that also includes pictures to entice and delight.
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October's Plant of the Month
David Viburnum
To learn more about David viburnums click on the picture.
Garden Videos
Click on the pic to visit my garden channel.
Click on the pic for a video on preparing a garden for winter.
Click the pic for a video on planting spring flowering bulbs.
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October Garden Stars
Chinese lantern, Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii, herbaceous perennial, 2'-3', invasive, sun to part shade. Zones 3 to 9.
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Oregon grape holly, Mahonia aquifolium, broadleaf evergreen, 3-6' x 2', sun, part shade. Zones 5 to 9. Click on pic for more.
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Sourwood, sorrel tree, Oxydendrum arboreum, deciduous tree, 20-50’ x 10-25’, fragrant, sun, part shade. Zone 5 to 9.
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Doll's Eyes, Actaea pachypoda f. pachypoda, herbaceous perennial, 18-30”, white flowers & poisonous berries, part shade to shade. Zones 3 to 9.
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Gaultheria procumbens, winterberry, broadleaf evergreen groundcover, 6” x 1’, white flowers, edible berries, part shade to shade. Zones 3 to 8. Click on the pic for more.
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Beautyberry, Callicarpa bodinieri, deciduous shrub, 6-10', sun to part shade. Zones 6-8. Click on the pic for more.
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Chinese witch hazel, Hamamelis mollis, deciduous shrub, zones 5 - 8, 10 to 15' tall, wide, fragrant winter flowers. Sun to part shade. Click on the pic for more.
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Hardy cyclamen, Cyclamen hederifolium, 6-8” x 12”, herbaceous perennial, blooms Sept – Oct, part shade, mulch. Zones 5 to 9.
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Ox eye, Heliopsis helianthoides var scabra 'Bleeding Hearts', herbaceous perennial, 3’ to 4’, sun. Zones 3 to 9.
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Persian Ironwood, Parrotia persica, deciduous tree, zones 4-8, 20 to 40' tall to 30' wide, full sun, interesting bark.
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Strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, broadleaf evergreen, 10’-20’ tall & wide, fragrant flowers Oct to Dec. Zones 7 to 9. Click on pic for more.
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Red maple, Acer rubrum, deciduous tree, zones 3 -9, 40 to 70' tall, 30 to 50' wide. Indigenous to North America.
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Sweet autumn clematis/virgins bower (C. ternifolia), deciduous vine, 15-30ft, fragrant, sun to part shade. Zones 5 to 9.
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Honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos, deciduous tree, 60’-80’ x 60’-80’, sun, fall colour. Zones 3 to 8.
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Guernsey lily, Nerine bowdenii, perennial bulb, 14-18”x3-6”, sun, fall flowers, well-drained soil. Zones 8 to 10.
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Chrysanthemums, herbaceous perennial, 1-3’ x 1-2’, flowers from September to frost. Zones 5 to 9. Click on pic for more.
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Dwarf winged burning bush, Euonymus alatus 'Compactus', deciduous shrub, 9 to 10' tall & wide, sun to part shade. Zones 4-8. Click on pic for more.
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Autumn crocus, Colchicum autumnale, corm, 6 - 10”, spring leaves, fall flowers, sun to shade. Zones 4 to 8. Click on pic for more.
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Japanese silver grass, Miscanthus sinensis, 5-9ft x 4-5ft, reddish brown blooms age to silver, sun to part shade. Zones 5-9
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Ornamental kale, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, biennial, 1’x 15”, sun, part shade. Zones 2-9. Click on the pic for more.
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Japanese Stewartia, S. pseudocamellia, deciduous tree, 20 - 40' x 10 - 25', sun part shade. Zones 5-8. Click on pic for more.
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October Garden Chores
Click on the coloured links to be redirected.
An autumnal October scene at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
Get Planting: Plant new plants and transplant existing ones to other parts of the garden as soon as possible. Water thoroughly and provide winter protection with thick layers of fall leaves or straw. To learn more about successful planting techniques click on Planting Know How.
Transplant: There’s no need to wait for spring to move plants around the garden. Fall planting is preferable as the soil is warm and there’s abundant rain unlike spring planting, which is followed by hot, dry summer weather.
Transplant: There’s no need to wait for spring to move plants around the garden. Fall planting is preferable as the soil is warm and there’s abundant rain unlike spring planting, which is followed by hot, dry summer weather.
Plant trees so their trunk flair is above ground.
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This tree is planted too deeply.
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Avoid using landscape fabric on garden beds.
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The burlap will soon strangle this poor tree.
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Loosen roots before planting.
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Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs
Dust all bulbs with cinnamon.
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Pot up some bulbs for portable displays.
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Chicken wire protects bulbs.
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Bury potted bulbs.
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Plant bulbs with other plants.
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Force hyacinths for early blossoms.
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Get them in the ground as soon as possible. This gives the roots time to grow before the ground freezes. Bury spring bulbs around ferns, irises, hostas and other perennials to hide their dying leaves. Place bulbs in containers in protected locations or bury the pots and cover the tops with straw or fallen leaves. In spring, remove the mulch and place the potted bulbs around the garden, on the patio, by the front door and anywhere that needs a pop of spring colour. To learn more about planting spring bulbs, critter protection, design and growing tips click on Spring Flowering Bulbs. Click on Planting Tulips for a video.
Force Spring Bulbs: Pot up tulips, hyacinths and daffodils pointed end up in pots filled with potting soil. store in a dark frost free area (4°-14° C.) such as a garage or bury potted bulbs in the garden for 12 to 15 weeks. When roots poke through drainage holes, move indoors to a sunny window and water as needed.
Force Spring Bulbs: Pot up tulips, hyacinths and daffodils pointed end up in pots filled with potting soil. store in a dark frost free area (4°-14° C.) such as a garage or bury potted bulbs in the garden for 12 to 15 weeks. When roots poke through drainage holes, move indoors to a sunny window and water as needed.
Saving Dahlias
Save your dahlias for next year.
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Use a garden fork to dig up dahlia tubers.
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Cure dahlias before storing.
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Store dry dahlia tubers in cardboard boxes.
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Dahlias may be left in the ground in USDA zones 8 to 11, however, there are no guarantees they’ll survive the winter especially in zone 8. It’s safer to dig them up and store them where it’s cool, dark, dry and frost free. Here’s more on overwintering dahlias.
There's no need to dig up glads in temperate climates.
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Keep your tuberous begonias for next year.
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Allow begonia stems to break free before storing.
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Store cannas where it's dark, dry, cool and frost free.
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Gladiolus: For USDA growing zones of 8 to 11, it is not necessary to dig them up over the winter. I figured this out when I accidentally left a few corms in the ground, and voila, they didn’t miss a beat when they emerged the following spring. In cooler climates wait for their leaves to turn yellow first before lifting them. If you can’t wait, dig them up while they are still green, being careful not to detach the stems from the corms. Hang them upside down in a frost free location until they yellow. Cut off the stems, remove the old corm underneath, then dust with cinnamon. Bury the corms in a cardboard box filled with vermiculite, peat moss, sawdust or clean, dry potting soil. Store in a frost free location. Avoid storing in plastic to reduce rotting.
Cannas: Dig up and store the tubers as you would dahlias or keep potted cannas in their pots in a cool, frost-free basement.
Tuberous begonias: Bring them indoors into a frost free area when their tops are killed by frost or when they start to yellow. Wait for their stems to break from the tubers then store. Click on Tuberous Begonias for more.
Cannas: Dig up and store the tubers as you would dahlias or keep potted cannas in their pots in a cool, frost-free basement.
Tuberous begonias: Bring them indoors into a frost free area when their tops are killed by frost or when they start to yellow. Wait for their stems to break from the tubers then store. Click on Tuberous Begonias for more.
October Lawn Care
Now's the time to fix the lawn!
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Grass stops growing when temps drop to 10°C (50°F).
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Clear leaves from the lawn before winter.
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Mow dry fallen leaves & place on garden beds.
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Lawns 101: It’s time to prepare the lawn for winter. Avoid cutting it lower than 2” as this reduces essential nutrients needed for the lawn to overwinter. Mow when it’s dry and frost free. Keep fall leaves off the lawn by raking them into garden beds or bag them when you mow. Place the mix of shredded leaves and grass clipping on garden beds as a nutritious and protective mulch. Stop mowing the lawn when daytime temperatures dip below 10°C, 50°F. For the last cut of the year, set the mower to 1.5 inches.
A winterizer fertilizer promotes hardiness.
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Lay sod for an instant lawn.
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Sow grass seed this month.
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A soil test takes the guesswork out of lawn care.
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Fertilize lawns with a high potash winterizer fertilizer ex: 9-4-18. Apply Dolopril lime on mossy lawns to raise the pH and treat with a moss killer. Aerate the lawn if you didn’t do so last spring. Hire someone to do the job or rent an aerator. Leave the sod 'cores' as they add nutrients when they decompose. To improve overall growth, topdress the entire lawn with screened compost. Follow up by sowing grass seed over the area and water thoroughly. For more on lawns click on Lawn 101 - Moss in Lawns - Lawn Maintenance - Fertilizers & Ratios
Sad Lawns & New Ones: If you don’t know why your lawn in not green and healthy, get a soil test before installing a new lawn or repairing an existing one. Cut out patches of dead grass, scatter bone meal and/or a starter fertilizer, then grass seeds, and rake. Firm the seeds with the back of the rake, plank or stiff mat. Keep seeds moist until they germinate then water as needed. For more information on laying sod, seeding and renovation, click on Lawn Reno.
Sad Lawns & New Ones: If you don’t know why your lawn in not green and healthy, get a soil test before installing a new lawn or repairing an existing one. Cut out patches of dead grass, scatter bone meal and/or a starter fertilizer, then grass seeds, and rake. Firm the seeds with the back of the rake, plank or stiff mat. Keep seeds moist until they germinate then water as needed. For more information on laying sod, seeding and renovation, click on Lawn Reno.
Garden Bed Winter Prep
Don't remove organic debris from garden beds.
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Ladybugs need leaf litter to overwinter.
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Make new beds now for spring planting.
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There's no need to dig up the lawn with lasagna gardening.
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Save yourself time and trouble by not raking leaves, twigs and other organic litter from garden beds. All that organic debris is essential for healthy soil. As it breaks down it adds nutrients, protects the ground from erosion, temperature fluctuations and from weeds. It also provides habitat for bees, ladybugs and other beneficial insects to overwinter.
New & Bigger Beds: It’s a good time to modify existing gardens and install new ones. Use a garden hose to outline beds. Instead of digging up the grass, smother it with cardboard and/or newspaper. To learn more about sheet mulching click on Lasagna Gardening.
New & Bigger Beds: It’s a good time to modify existing gardens and install new ones. Use a garden hose to outline beds. Instead of digging up the grass, smother it with cardboard and/or newspaper. To learn more about sheet mulching click on Lasagna Gardening.
Weeds & Bedding Plants
Try to get all their roots when pulling up weeds.
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To prevent weeds, add a thick layer of mulch.
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Leave the roots annuals to decompose in the soil.
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Don't deadhead Love-in-a-mist as they will reseed.
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Cover ponds with netting in fall.
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Weeds: Weed now for a less weedy spring. Hand weeding gives instant results, but do try to get all the runners, roots and seed heads. For obnoxious weeds such as horsetail and bindweed, just pull them out of the ground, don’t dig them up as it spreads them even more! Once an area is weeded, lay 3 inches of mulch on top of the soil surface to discourage new weeds from popping up.
Annuals/Bedding Plants: Cut off petunias, impatiens and other annuals/bedding plants, but leave their roots in the ground as they add nutrients and organic matter as they decompose. To encourage reseeding, don’t cut back lobelias, alyssum, love-in-mist (Nigella), nasturtiums, ageratum, snapdragons, poppies, foxgloves and calendula.
Ponds: To protect ponds and other water features from fall leaves, cover them with netting. Once overhead trees are bare, use the netting to neatly gather the leaves. Place the foliage in the compost or on top of garden beds as a mulch. Here's more on Ponds in Winter.
Annuals/Bedding Plants: Cut off petunias, impatiens and other annuals/bedding plants, but leave their roots in the ground as they add nutrients and organic matter as they decompose. To encourage reseeding, don’t cut back lobelias, alyssum, love-in-mist (Nigella), nasturtiums, ageratum, snapdragons, poppies, foxgloves and calendula.
Ponds: To protect ponds and other water features from fall leaves, cover them with netting. Once overhead trees are bare, use the netting to neatly gather the leaves. Place the foliage in the compost or on top of garden beds as a mulch. Here's more on Ponds in Winter.
Taking Care of Perennials
Cut perennials back to 6 inches.
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Cut perennials back when they yellow.
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Cut back ornamental grasses in spring.
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Remove diseased hellebore leaves. Click on pic.
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Perennials: Once irises, daylilies and other perennials start to yellow, cut their stems off 6” inches above the ground. This adds a bit of winter protection and provides homes for beneficial insects. To further benefit the plants and the soil, don’t discard those healthy leaves. Pile them on top of and around the plant to provide winter protection and help feed the soil as they decompose. Cut off and discard infected leaves from Lenten roses (Hellebore) and remove and discard all peony leaves to prevent peony leaf blotch. Some perennials shouldn't be cut back in fall as they are prone to winter kill, such as chrysanthemums. Wait to cut back ornamental grasses, globe thistle (Echinops ritro) and redhot poker plants (Kniphofia uvaria) as they provide food for birds.
Don't cut back red-hot poker plants in fall. Click on pic.
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Cutting back mums now makes them vulnerable to winterkill. Click on pic.
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Time to divide this daylily. Click on pic for more.
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Use a sharp knife or saw to cut through roots.
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Dividing Perennials: Divide hostas, irises, daylilies and other perennials when there’s few blooms, the clump becomes too wide, the centre becomes bare and the plant lacks vigour. Cut through tough roots with a bread knife, old pruning saw or drywall knife. Plant in the garden or pot them up.
October Roses
Roses benefit from some TLC.
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Secure or cut back overly long rose canes.
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Protect rose crowns.
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Remove diseased foliage.
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Rosehips provide winter colour.
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Roses: Don’t cut back roses too far in autumn as it makes them vulnerable to winterkill. However, a little bit of pruning won’t go amiss. First remove all dead and diseased canes followed by anything spindly and weak. Shorten the remaining stems by a quarter. Cut just above a bud (node) or leaf. Shorten or remove overly long canes to prevent the wind from dislodging the plant from the ground (windrock). Climbing Roses: Tie their canes to their supports or cut them back so they don’t rip around in the wind. To reduce the spread of disease, remove ALL infected, diseased foliage from the plant and the ground to prevent overwintering diseases. Do you want more roses? Fall is the perfect time of the year to plant new ones and to take cuttings.
Roses Winter Protection: Mound a few inches of soil or fall foliage over the plant’s crown then lay a 3-inch layer of mulch on the ground. For more click on Roses - Pruning Roses - Types of Roses - Easy Roses - Rose Insects & Diseases - Climbing Roses - Climbing Rose Winter Prep
Roses Winter Protection: Mound a few inches of soil or fall foliage over the plant’s crown then lay a 3-inch layer of mulch on the ground. For more click on Roses - Pruning Roses - Types of Roses - Easy Roses - Rose Insects & Diseases - Climbing Roses - Climbing Rose Winter Prep
Veggie Gardening TLC
Make a plan of the veggie garden.
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Leave healthy chard in the garden.
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Discard the diseased, dying & the dead.
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Kale is winter hardy.
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A cloche and straw protect winter veg.
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Remove and discard all dead, dying, diseased remnants from all remaining crops and the soil. Leave chard, kale, broccoli and other hardy veggies in the ground. To protect them over the winter, mulch the ground with a thick layer of straw, torn up newspapers, and cover with a frost blanket or cloche. For a list on what to do, click on Fall Veggie Garden Clean-up.
Plant garlic in full sun.
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Continue to harvest broccoli side shoots.
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A layer of straw protects a veggie bed.
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Mulch winter crops with a thick layer of fall leaves.
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Plant garlic & shallots in a sunny spot with good drainage. Cut off broccoli heads but leave the plant to encourage side shoots. Harvest tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, basil, zucchini and all other non-hardy crops.
Cover Bare Veggie Beds: To prevent nutrient loss, erosion and winter weeds, cover bare soil with 3 inches or more of fall foliage, straw (not hay) or a thick layer of ripped up newspaper on top of the soil. This prevents nutrient loss, erosion and winter weeds.
Cover Bare Veggie Beds: To prevent nutrient loss, erosion and winter weeds, cover bare soil with 3 inches or more of fall foliage, straw (not hay) or a thick layer of ripped up newspaper on top of the soil. This prevents nutrient loss, erosion and winter weeds.
Tomato blight.
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Remove all tomato debris.
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Wipe down squashes to prevent mould.
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Cover rhubarb with their leaves.
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Tomatoes: Discard tomato plants once they start to decline. To reduce overwintering diseases, remove fallen debris and rotting tomatoes. To further prevent the spread of diseases and nutrient deficiencies, plant tomatoes in another part of the garden next year.
Cure winter squash: Prepare acorn, spaghetti squash, pumpkins etc. for storage by placing them in a warm, frost free location to cure for 4 to 5 days. To prevent mould, wipe them down first with a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Store at 10 to 15°C (50 to 60°F).
Take Notes & Pics: List your successes and failures. Make a mention of why you think plants failed and why they did well. In the veggie garden make notes of what is planted and where so you can rotate crops next year. To learn more about vegetable gardening click on Crop Rotation, Succession & Companion Planting, and Food Gardening.
Cure winter squash: Prepare acorn, spaghetti squash, pumpkins etc. for storage by placing them in a warm, frost free location to cure for 4 to 5 days. To prevent mould, wipe them down first with a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Store at 10 to 15°C (50 to 60°F).
Take Notes & Pics: List your successes and failures. Make a mention of why you think plants failed and why they did well. In the veggie garden make notes of what is planted and where so you can rotate crops next year. To learn more about vegetable gardening click on Crop Rotation, Succession & Companion Planting, and Food Gardening.
Houseplants & Savings Tropical Plants
Keep potted fuchsias indoors or bury them in the garden.
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Coleus are easy care houseplants.
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Hurry up and bring angel trumpets (Brugmansia) & other houseplants indoors.
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There are numerous ways to overwinter geraniums.
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Save tropical plants by bringing them indoors if you haven't already done so. It’s best to bring potted geraniums, bougainvilleas and other frost tender babies inside before nighttime temperatures drop to 10°C. Check pots and plants for slugs, mites, or other insects. As they adjust to the new environment, they are prone to lose all their leaves, but don’t be alarmed as they will grow new ones. To keep them happy over the winter, place them under grow lights or fluorescents. To learn more click on Overwintering Tender Plants and Houseplants in Winter & Saving Geraniums & Tropicals.
What to Prune in October
It's too late to shear hedges.
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Only cut off dead hydrangea flowers just above the first buds.
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Cut suckers off trees.
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Don't cut back bridal wreath spirea & other spring bloomers.
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Cutting off too much this time of year compromises a plant’s hardiness. Wait until trees, shrubs and vines are fully dormant in winter. Spring flowering plants have already set their buds, so wait to prune them after they have finished flowering in spring. Do remove all dead, diseased, broken, spindly growth and any suckers. Pruning 101 - Pruning Tools
Seasonal Planters
A colourful fall planter.
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Funky gourds are nice fall touch.
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Curly hazel stems, wee pumpkins accent pansies, rue, asters, mums, ornamental kale & creeping jenny.
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Seasonal Planters: Make fall and winter a little less grey with a planter full of colourful hardy flowers, foliage and some funky seasonal stuff. Select plants one or two hardiness zone lower than your local zone. For example, Vancouver, BC is zone 8, so select plants for zone 7 and lower. To renovate existing planters, discard anything that’s dead and sickly and replace with ornamental kale, winter pansies, winter heather etc. Stick in some interesting branches, pretty pumpkins and gourds. Add tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinths, crocus, snowdrops and other bulbs for spring flowers. For more click on Container Growing. Click here for a video.
Unwanted Garden Visitors
Forest tent caterpillars.
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Tree banding is an effect non-toxic insect control.
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This is the only type of mouse I want in my home.
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Stink bugs overwinter indoors. Click on pic for more.
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Caterpillar Control: Stop insects in their tracks by wrapping trees with a sticky tree band. Wrap tree trunks with sticky traps to prevent forest tent caterpillars and other insects from infesting trees, fruit trees and ornamental Japanese cherry trees. These traps stop insects in their tracks preventing them from crawling up the tree. For more click here.
Bug & Rodent Free Home: Winter is on its way, so stink bugs, spiders, insects and rodents are looking for a warm, dry place to spend the winter. Deny them entrance to your home by sealing cracks in the foundation, siding, windows and doors with a high-quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk. Look for gaps around utility pipes, outlets, and behind chimneys. Replace damaged door and window screens. Ensure the weather stripping around the front and back doors are intact. Replace outdoor lighting with yellow bulbs or keep them off at night as bugs, especially stink bugs are attracted to the light. Although you might want to kill spiders, please don't as they love to feast on stink bugs! To learn more about stink bugs, click on Stink Bugs.
Bug & Rodent Free Home: Winter is on its way, so stink bugs, spiders, insects and rodents are looking for a warm, dry place to spend the winter. Deny them entrance to your home by sealing cracks in the foundation, siding, windows and doors with a high-quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk. Look for gaps around utility pipes, outlets, and behind chimneys. Replace damaged door and window screens. Ensure the weather stripping around the front and back doors are intact. Replace outdoor lighting with yellow bulbs or keep them off at night as bugs, especially stink bugs are attracted to the light. Although you might want to kill spiders, please don't as they love to feast on stink bugs! To learn more about stink bugs, click on Stink Bugs.
Save Money on Seeds
Canterbury bell seeds. Click on pic for more.
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These milkweed seeds are ready to collect.
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Collect seeds from dry, brown seed pods.
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Collect Seeds: There’s no need to spend money on seeds when you can gather them from your garden. Pick seed heads, capsules and pods when they are dry and have turned brown. Store dry seeds in paper envelopes where its dry and away from freezing temperatures. For more click on Collecting Seeds.
Cleaning & Putting Stuff Away
Clean debris out of ponds.
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Give your lawn mower some TLC before storing.
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Don't forget to clean out the shed.
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Ponds: Clean out ponds, fountains and other water features. For more info click on Ponds in Winter.
Garden Hoses & Tools: Once your gardening chores have ended, drain the garden hose, remove the nozzle, and store. Clean and store all your garden tools in a dry place away from the weather. Sharpen pruning equipment and spray all tools with vegetable oil, such as Pam.
Shed: Remove liquids and fertilizer including dormant oil and lime sulfur kits and store indoors. Then give the shed a good clean.
Lawn Mowers: To store mowers and to prepare them for next year, remove the mower blade, clean and sharpen. Scrape off any caked-on grass on the mower deck. Remove the batteries on cordless mowers. For gas mowers, drain the gas tank, disconnect and clean.
Garden Hoses & Tools: Once your gardening chores have ended, drain the garden hose, remove the nozzle, and store. Clean and store all your garden tools in a dry place away from the weather. Sharpen pruning equipment and spray all tools with vegetable oil, such as Pam.
Shed: Remove liquids and fertilizer including dormant oil and lime sulfur kits and store indoors. Then give the shed a good clean.
Lawn Mowers: To store mowers and to prepare them for next year, remove the mower blade, clean and sharpen. Scrape off any caked-on grass on the mower deck. Remove the batteries on cordless mowers. For gas mowers, drain the gas tank, disconnect and clean.
Prepping for Winter
Brush off fallen leaves from the top of shrubs.
Overwinter potted plants in trenches & cover with straw.
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Protect shrubs with fabric, not plastic.
Frost blankets are available at dollar stores.
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Tie up evergreens to prevent breakage.
Protect plants with a thick layer of foliage.
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French, Spanish lavender, (Lavandula stoechas) are tender & need winter protection.
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Prepping for Winter: No matter where you live, it’s a good idea to protect plants from Old Man Winter. especially borderline hardy plants: hybrid teas and other grafted roses, New Zealand flax (Phormium sp.), pineapple lily (Eucomis autumnalis), freesias, elephant ear (Colocasia spp.), rock rose (Cistus spp.), rosemary, French & Spanish lavenders and newly planted ones. Cover them with thick layers of leaves, mulch or straw. Wrap evergreen conifers with string to stop heavy snow from crushing their branches. For extra protection, especially in cold climates, wrap them in frost blankets, burlap or old sheets. For more click on Winter Protection.
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Bananas & Palms Winter Protection
Protect bananas with their cut up stems & leaves.
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Avoid plastic as it lacks insulation and causes rot.
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The top of palm trees must be protected.
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A Chinese windmill palm is cold hardy. Click on pick for more.
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Protect Garden Bananas & Palms: To protect hardy Japanese bananas (Musa basjoo) that grow in the cooler zones of USDA zone 5 to 8, cut down all their stems to 2 feet. Use the cut stems to cover the plant in addition to fall leaves and newspapers. If the soil is dry, water well before preparing them for winter.
To protect Chinese windmill palms, first water them as dry soil compromises their hardiness. Wrap the trunk all the way to the very top of the palm tree with numerous layers of burlap, frost blankets, sheets or insulation. Tie the frond together on top of the palm covering the central bud. If that centre bud dies, so does the palm tree. Add at least three inches of fall leaves or straw around the base of the plant to protect the roots. For more click on Banana & Palm Tree Winter Protection.
To protect Chinese windmill palms, first water them as dry soil compromises their hardiness. Wrap the trunk all the way to the very top of the palm tree with numerous layers of burlap, frost blankets, sheets or insulation. Tie the frond together on top of the palm covering the central bud. If that centre bud dies, so does the palm tree. Add at least three inches of fall leaves or straw around the base of the plant to protect the roots. For more click on Banana & Palm Tree Winter Protection.
Composting Wisdom
Wild mushrooms are part of nature's cleaning crew.
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Don't put wild violets and other seedy weeds in the compost.
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Don't compost seedy weeds like this wild geranium.
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Add newspapers to compost bins. Click on pic for more.
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Composting: Cut up healthy plants into pieces to speed up decomposition. Avoid weeds, anything buggy, diseased, cooked food, fat, dairy and meat. Turn the pile and add water if dry, and torn newspaper or dried fall foliage if it’s too wet. Mix well and finish off with a thick layer of fall leaves, newspaper or soil.
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THE GARDEN WEBSITE INDEX
Click on the links below to be redirected.
for the tropical Gardener
While working in Florida as horticultural consultant, it became apparent that there was a need for a book on tropical shrubs. There are so many wonderful shrubs to choose from, so I wrote a reference book to make the selections easier. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs includes pictures in full colour and information about the plants in point form. So if you live in the tropics and subtropics and need a reference book on tropical shrubs, or you just want to have a look-see click here.
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