What to do in October for Gardening

October is a great time to plant plants; the weather is still nice but not so hot, and it’s a great time to look for plants with beautiful fall color.

Early October
-Apply a fall winterizer to your lawn

Mid to late October
-Roses can be dead headed and evened up.

-Rose of Sharon and other summer flowering shrubs can be evened up.  You can also remove some of the crossing branches on your shrubs.  Barberry and boxwoods could be brought back under control. Spring flowering shrubs (lilacs, viburnums) should be left alone until after they bloom, so you don't accidentally cut off next year's flower show. 

-Blow out your sprinkler system

Late October
-Cut perennial flowers to the ground and rake them up as well. These plants include daylilies, hostas, astilbes, salvias, black eyed susans, etc.  Cleans up the yard so it’s ready for spring. Here is a list of Perennials to cut back and a list of Perennials to even up.