October Landscape Garden Tips
Select a tip for the month of October below:
Tip #1: If you are on a ProScape Fertilization and Weed Prevention Program for Bermuda and Zoysia lawns, it is time for Step 4.
Tip #2: You may seed or overseed Fescue lawns at this time.
Tip #3: Apply pelletized lime at this time to Fescue, Bermuda, or Zoysia lawns.
Tip #4: Now is the time to plant Chrysanthemums (Fall Garden Mums).
Tip #5: Begin planting Pansies and Violas now.
Tip #6: Bulbs for Fall planting are available now.
Tip #7: Now is time to winterize your perennial garden.
Tip #8: Plant Fall vegetables this month.
Tip #9: Now is a great time to plant perennials.
Tip #10: If your crape myrtles have a black, mold-like substance on the leaves this indicates the presence of honeydew aphids.
Tip #11: October, and in fact the entire winter season, is a great time to plant most any shrubs,trees, or groundcovers.
Tip #1: Apply the #4 application of ProScape Lawn Fertilization and Weed Prevention Program for Bermuda and Zoysia lawns.
If you are on a ProScape Fertilization and Weed Prevention Program for Bermuda and Zoysia lawns, it is time for Step 4; the last application of the year. Apply ProScape 5-5-20 Fall Feed/Winterizer with Barricade Weed Preventer now. If you are not yet on the program now is as good a time as any to start! To know how much fertilizer to apply, measure your lawn area(s) for square footage. To determine total square footage, measure and then multiply length x width of lawn area(s). SEE: How to Fertilize a Lawn
If not on a ProScape Lawn Fertilization Program broadcast a comparable "Fall Feed" fertilizer and a weed preventer.
Caution: If you are planning to overseed your Fescue lawn this Fall do not apply pre-emergent weed preventer at this time. SEE: Weed Control in Lawns
Tip #2: You may seed or overseed Fescue lawns at this time.
Fall is the best season to plant or overseed a fescue lawn. There are two basic categories of fescue seed: "turf-type" and KY-31 Fescue. We recommend using turf-type fescues or a mixture of the two. Keep in mind that Ky 31 is best suited for use in pastures and thrives best when cut at 6 inches or higher. It is best to broadcast fescue seed with a rotary-type walk behind or shoulder spreader. Feed newly seeded fescue lawns with a lawn starter fertilizer conatining plenty of phosphorus (middle number). SEE: Overseeding a Lawn
Tip #3: Apply pelletized lime at this time to Fescue, Bermuda, and Zoysia lawns.
Lime is not a fertilizer, however, you may notice after applying it that your lawn greens up quickly. This is due to the correction of the ph, which can unlock and releases fertilzers that have been applied in the past. If you have never applied lime to your lawn, a one-time application of 40 lbs per 500 -1,000 square feet usually corrects soil ph to a level sufficient for these grasses to thrive and for fertilizers applied to activate. Make sure to use "pellitized" lime as it activates instantly. Once ph is corrected no further applications of lime are necessary for several years. There are soil ph testing kits available at most local nursery and garden centers and your local extension service may also provide soil testing services.
Tip #4: Now is the time to plant Chrysanthemums (Fall Garden Mums).
During the month of October a huge selection of perennial Chrysanthemums (mums), in many vibrant shades of yellow, red, pink, purple, orange, white, and bronze, are available at the nursery. Plant these beauties in full sun and then enjoy their return year after year. SEE: About Fall Garden Mums
Tip #5: Begin planting Pansies, Violas and other Fall and Winter flowering annual plants now.
You live with your landscape 365 days a year. Fall can be full of color just like Spring! By planting fall-blooming plants, you can keep your landscape and garden interesting even during the cooler months, when not much else is blooming. Pansies and Violas are perhaps the most popular cool-season annual bedding plants for use in flowerbeds and planting in containers, however, don't forget about flowering cabbages, kales, mustards and Swiss Chard. These colorful foliage plants are perfect mixing in with your pansies and violas to add height, texture and color contrast. SEE: How to Plant an Annual Flower Bed SEE ALSO: About Pansies
Tip #6: Bulbs for Fall planting are available now.
Fall is a great time to plant daffodils, hyacinths, tulips and other spring-flowering bulbs. Our favorite way to plant Daffodil bulbs is to hand-scatter the bulbs along the borders of beds, islands or woodland borders as if Mother Nature planted them herself. Plant Tulip bulbs beneath your pansies and watch them put on a spectatcular show when the they rise through the pansies in Spring! Hyacinths are most impressive when planted in groups/patches. NOTE: In the South and warmer regions, bulbs bought in October should be kept in the refrigerator until mid to late November when they can safely be planted. SEE: How to Plant Bulbs
Caution: Do not store bulbs in the same compartment of your refrigerator with apples.
Tip #7: Now is time to winterize your perennial garden.
Clip back dead growth and spread a layer of mulch or compost to protect plant roots from the colder temperatures that are on the way.
CAUTION: DO NOT cut back Lantanas until next spring when the new growth begins to emerge - Fall pruning almost insures death of Lantanas.
SEE: Pruning and Winterizing Perennial Plants
Tip #8: Plant Fall vegetables this month.
Now is a good time to plant fall vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, spinach, collards, cauliflower and mustard and turnip greens.
Tip #9: Now is a great time to plant perennials.
Many fall-blooming perennials are now available at your local nursery and garden center such as asters, salvias, daisies, perennial grasses, sedums, and of course Mums. SEE: About Fall Garden Mums
Tip #10: If your crape myrtles have a black mold-like substance on the leaves this indicates the presence of honeydew aphids.
These small green insects hang out on the underside of the leaves during the day and then move to the top of the leaf at night leaving behind trails of sticky residue. This residue collects dust and pollution that appears like a black mold. To kill these insects you could spray a chemical insecticide, however there are several other methods for control of insects in the landscape
Tip #11: October, and in fact the entire winter season, is a great time to plant most any shrubs,trees, or groundcovers.
Contrary to popular belief the cool season is the best time to plant ornamental shrubs and trees. Planting during the cool season - when plants are in their dormancy - will require much less attention to watering. Too, it allows plants to acclimate to their new home and also benefit from the early spring root flush when soil temperatures begin to warm. Encore Azaleas, camellias, dogwood trees and rhododendrons appreciate being planted during the cool season and will require less attention to watering the next summer.
Choose from a month below to view gardening tips and reminders: