October To-Do List - What To Do In The Garden In Fall

Here's what to do in the garden in October Plant some new trees, shrubs, grasses, or vines. Bring in cold-sensitive plants for overwintering. Plant spring bulbs. Plant cold-hardy edibles such as garlic or kale.

What can I cut in my garden in October?

Fruit bushes such as currants and gooseberries will benefit from thinning out, while perennials that lack decorative seed heads should be cut back to the ground. Autumn is also the time to prune tender plants such as lavender and rosemary, which won't withstand pruning in winter.

What should I do to my garden in the fall?

10 Things to Do Now for a Better Garden Next Year

Clean Up the Veggie Garden. 1/11. Once the growing season is done, it's time to pull everything out. ...
Amend the Soil. 2/11. ...
Divide & Transplant. 3/11. ...
Seed the Lawn. 4/11. ...
Plant Spring Bulbs. 5/11. ...
Weed Thoroughly. 6/11. ...
Plant a Tree. 7/11. ...
Protect Tender Plants. 8/11.

What should I add to my garden soil in the fall?

In the fall, spread amendments evenly over the area before you till. You'll need a lot of manure and/or compost to feed microorganisms and help the soil remain open and well-drained. Then boost fertility with materials such as bone meal for nitrogen and rock phosphate for phosphorous.

What vegetables can I start growing in October?

Vegetable seeds to sow in October

Peas. For an early crop of tasty peas, sow overwintering cultivars like 'Avola', in a sheltered spot. ...
Lettuce. At this time of year, you can be making successional sowings of hardy lettuces. ...
Broad beans. ...
Cauliflower.

Is it OK to plant shrubs in October?

October is an ideal time for moving and planting trees, shrubs and climbers, as well as for hedge planting. Bare-root - Deciduous trees and shrubs, as well as root-wrapped evergreens, become available towards the end of the month, so you could think ahead and prepare the ground for them now.

Can I start a garden in October?

Plant Flowers and Vegetables

If you live in a frost-free region, October is a great time to plant cool-weather flowers and vegetables in your garden. Crops such as kale, cabbage, collards, lettuce, carrots, mustard, onions, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, beets, and garlic can all be planted in early to late October.

Should I put manure in my garden in the fall?

Generally, fall is the best time to use manure in the garden. This allows plenty of time for the manure to break down, eliminating the threat of burning plants in the garden. Well-aged manure on its own also makes a great fertilizer for garden plants.

Should I put compost in my garden in the fall?

Fall is the best time to apply the compost, although an application in early spring is almost as effective. A compost mulch can benefit trees and shrubs just as it does other plants. Spread a ½” to 1″ layer of compost on the bare soil under the tree as far as the drip line.

Should I fertilize my garden in the fall?

Organic Soil Amendments

Most organic fertilizers release their nutrients slowly over many months, so applying them in the fall helps ensure they'll be available to your plants next spring. ... It's best to raise or lower soil pH slowly, over a three- to six-month period.

How do you prepare soil for autumn?

Top 5 Autumn Preparation Tips

Prepare the soil. Turn over the soil well, breaking up hard clumps and removing any weeds and debris as you go.
Plant a green manure crop. ...
Improve the soil with compost. ...
Sow long-maturing vegetables early. ...
Sow large-seeded vegetables when the weather cools.

How do you prepare soil for fall garden?

Prepare Your Soil for Fall Planting in 3 Easy Steps

Dig In, Dig Deep, and Till Your Soil. Start by tilling the soil down 8 to12 inches. ...
Amend Your Soil and Fill'er Up. Adding nutrients to your soil will ensure your garden yields a large, healthy and nutritious crop. ...
Water Thoroughly.

How do you prepare soil for next year gardening?

Here are seven simple things you can do now to prep soil now for next season:

Take a Test. ...
Leave the Roots. ...
Add Compost. ...
Spread Some Manure. ...
Sprinkle with Fertilizer. ...
Pile on the Leaves. ...
Plant Cover Crops.

Can I plant broccoli in October?

You can plant a spring and early summer crop in late winter or early spring. Plant a fall or winter crop in mid to late or summer or early fall. ... Transplant broccoli seedlings to the garden when they are 4 to 6 weeks old, as early as the last frost in spring, after hardening off the seedlings for 4 days.

What can I plant in October?

What to Sow and Plant in October

Garlic. Buy garlic for planting in October or early November. ...
Onions. Autumn onion sets, such as Radar and Electric Red can be planted now.
Land cress. Also known as American land cress. ...
Chinese leaves. ...
Lamb's lettuce or corn salad. ...
Winter lettuce. ...
Winter purslane. ...
Broad bean.

Can you plant anything in October?

Leafy greens and Brassicas: Lettuces, spinach, and Swiss chard can be planted from seed or from transplant this month. Plant members of the Brassica family, including broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, and cauliflower, from transplant. Kale can also be planted from seed in October.

Is it too late to plant shrubs in October?

September through November is the ideal time for tree planting because it allows the roots to become established before the ground freezes and winter sets in. However, it is highly recommended that you do not continue planting trees too late into the fall because this can have a negative impact on plant health.

Is it too late to plant trees in October?

Is October or November too late to plant trees? Mid-August to mid-October is an ideal time of year to plant new trees. Though, that time frame can be stretched. A good rule of thumb is that if the trees in your area still have leaves, you can plant new trees.

Can I plant shrubs in autumn?

Planting is best done between October and April. ... Container-grown plants can be planted any time of the year, but are easier to care for if planted in autumn or winter, as they need less watering than ones planted in spring or summer. Bare-root and rootballed trees and shrubs are only available in autumn and winter.

Can I plant tomatoes in October?

Plant in October

Planting tomatoes in October, our earliest date for the season, helps plants to become well established by the winter cold snap. If you plant a large container grown tomato in October, it may produce edible fruit for the holidays.

Can I plant spinach in October?

Planting Time

Most spinach varieties prefer cool but frost-free weather, making them suitable as a spring or fall crop in most climates. In areas with mild winters, it's possible to grow spinach from fall through spring.

Can you plant perennials in October?

Spring-blooming perennials, especially in the bare root form, are best planted early in the fall. Planting in the fall while the soil is still warm will give the roots enough time establish properly. This allows the plants to emerge from well established roots, with a stronger start, the following spring.