Adair County
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GARDENING TIPS FOR OCTOBER |
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ORNAMENTALS
- Plant spring bulb flowers.
- Continue watering, especially evergreens if soils are dry.
- Container grown and balled & burlapped trees and shrubs can be planted. Loosen the soil in an area 5 times the diameter of the root ball before planting. Mulch well after watering.
- For best bloom this winter, Christmas Cactus, potted azaleas, and kalanchoe may be left outdoors until night temperatures drop to about 40 degrees.
- Cannas and dahlias can be dug when frost nips their foliage. Allow plants to dry in an airy, frost-free place before storage.
- Spring bulbs for forcing can be potted up now and stored in a cool, frost-free place until it is time to bring indoors, usually for 12-15 weeks.
- Transplant deciduous trees after they have dropped their leaves.
FRUIT
- Persimmons start to ripen, especially after frost.
- Monitor fruit plantings for mouse activity and take steps for their own control if present.
- Place wire guards around trunks of young fruit trees for protection against mice and rabbits.
VEGETABLES
- Continue harvesting tender crops before frost.
- Harvest winter squash and pumpkins before frost.
- Dig sweet potatoes before a hard freeze.
- Gourds should be harvested
- Sow cover crops such as winter rye after crops are harvested.
TURFGRASS
- Seeding should be finished by October 15.
- Broadleaf herbicides can be applied now to control cool season weeds such as chickweed and dandelion.
- Continue mowing lawns until growth stops.
- Keep leaves raked off grass to prevent smothering grass.
- Now is a good time to apply lime if soil tests indicate the need.
- Winterize lawn mowers before storage.
MISCELLANEOUS
- Week 1-Fall color begins
- Week 3-Begin peak fall color in maples, hickories, and oaks.
- Week 4-End of peak fall color.
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University of Missouri Extension |
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