The air has a fall chill to it and the leaves are starting to turn, but there is still plenty to do in your garden and yard. Harvesting the last veggies and flowers, planting bulbs for a spring bloom and putting in your garlic and onions are just a few things that can be done in October. Here are just a few ideas to add to your "To-Do" List. Tricia talks about some things she is doing in her fall garden in our video, October Gardening Checklist.
Things to Plant in the Fall – Spring flowering bulbs, garlic, shallots, native plants, cover crop, wildflowers, annual flowers like mums, cool weather seeds like lettuce, kale, beets, greens and more! Read the full article, 20 Great Gardening Tips for Your October Garden for more information.
Turn the checklist into a seed plan
Use the Seed Learning Center to move from seasonal tasks to crop selection, seed starting, direct sowing, and harvest planning. Browse vegetable seeds when you are ready to match varieties to the open spaces in your garden.
October garden priorities
October work depends on first-frost timing, rainfall, and winter severity. Start by checking a local forecast and your typical frost date. Harvest tender crops before damaging cold, while allowing cold-tolerant vegetables to remain when conditions are suitable. Label storage crops and inspect them before putting them away.
Protect and extend the harvest
Prepare row cover, hoops, or cold frames before a cold night is forecast. Water dry soil earlier in the day rather than wetting foliage late at night. Containers cool faster than garden beds, so move vulnerable pots or group them in a sheltered location. Keep covers from crushing plants and remove or vent them when sunny conditions raise temperatures.
Plant for the next season
In climates where fall planting is recommended, sow or transplant only crops with enough time to establish. Planting calendars are regional; use local extension guidance for garlic, cover crops, hardy greens, spring bulbs, and wildflowers. Mark rows clearly because winter growth can be slow.
Clean up selectively
Remove diseased crop residue and badly infested plants. Healthy material can be composted if the pile is managed appropriately. Leave selected flower stems, seed heads, and undisturbed areas when they provide winter habitat, but keep pathways and irrigation access clear. Clean and dry stakes, trays, and hand tools before storage.
Care for soil and irrigation
Cover bare soil with mulch, a suitable cover crop, or living plants. Drain hoses and exposed irrigation components where freezing is possible. Note compacted or poorly drained areas now, but avoid working saturated soil. A soil test can guide amendments before the next heavy planting season.
Support beneficial wildlife
Cleanup does not need to leave every bed bare. Hollow stems, leaf litter, and seed heads can shelter insects and feed birds, while diseased debris should be removed. Concentrate tidy zones near paths and buildings and retain habitat where it will not create drainage, fire, or access problems.
Finish with a short record
Write down frost dates, last harvests, irrigation problems, pest pressure, and seed varieties to repeat. Mark perennial crowns and buried irrigation components before foliage disappears. A five-minute map in October can prevent accidental digging and make spring planning faster.
Prepare perennial plants for winter
Continue watering newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials during dry weather until the ground freezes or local guidance says to stop. Avoid stimulating tender late growth with unnecessary fertilizer. Protect vulnerable trunks or crowns only with materials appropriate to the plant and climate, and remove temporary protection when the danger has passed.