October Horticulture Report

Horticulture Chair, Michele Weathington reports:unnamed

October is the time to compost, so add to your current pile or create one.  Clean out all the dead stuff from your garden and flower beds including leaves and put it in your composter.

Plant trees, shrubs, rose bushes, and perennials.  Planting now will ensure better survival this coming Spring and Summer and you should have earlier growth and blooms.

Plant Fall and Winter colors, Pansies, Dianthus, Snapdragons, Alyssum, Ornamental Kale, Cabbage, and Dusty Miller.  Consider planting in pots or in you freshly cleaned up garden beds.

Replace dead grass with St. Augustine sod.  Weeds will sprout in dead patches if you don’t.  If you plant now, new sod will be well established by Spring.  Winterize your lawn, an organic, slow release fertilizer is what the grass needs to get ready for cold weather.

Plant Fall veggies and herbs now such as Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Lettuce, Cabbage, Peas, Dill, Cilantro, Parsley, Swiss Chard, Mustard Greens, etc.

Plant Bulbs between Halloween and Thanksgiving.  Plant Paperwhites in pots by November 11th to ensure blooms by Christmas.  Keep your Tulip Bulbs refrigerated until New Year’s Day then plant them every two weeks until Valentine’s Day for longer blooms.

Plant Wildflower seeds through November and don’t forget to plant Sweet Pea seeds in November too.

To have your Roses and Perennials bursting by Spring transplant and divide them now while they are dormant.

Most importantly don’t forget to Mulch.  This will protect roots and contain moisture while helping to control weeds.

Article written by Gail Branca