2022 October Gardening Tips

It’s October 2022 and in the world of gardening there’s plenty to do! From pruning to planting and of course decorating! October offers a variety of fun activities to keep us gardeners busy and soaking up as much of the outdoors as we can. To keep you busy as a bee this October, check out our hand list of “Fall To-Do’s” below!

Lawn & Pond

	Lower the blade on your lawn mower to keep grass cut shorter for fall. Keeping your lawn shorter in fall will prevent fungus like snow mold from forming in the spring.
	Remove pond netting and clean the bottom of the pond after the leaves have fallen.
	Plant seed while the ground isn’t frozen and the soil is moist!
	Keep all toys, tools and furniture off your lawn to allow it to breath and take in as much sunlight as it can.
	Add cold water bacteria to ponds to maintain healthy a healthy ecosystem while temperatures cool off.
	Remove all dead pond foliage to prevent bad bacteria build up.
	Reduce feeding your pond fish to once a day to start their hibernation process.
	Switch pond food to cold water fish food pellets.
	Move waterlilies indoors if tropical. Relocate to deeper waters if hardy.

Plant Care

	Divide perennials like Lilies, Hostas, Peonies, Bearded Iris, Oriental Poppies four to six weeks before the first frost.
	Mulch! A great way to keep your plants safe over the winter is to protect them from frost and debris by mulching.
	Apply Fall & Winter lawn fertilizer 6-10-20. For the best results, be sure to apply your fertilizer earlier in the month, between October 1st-15th.
	Prune out all dead, diseased and dying branches and leaves off shrubs and trees.
	Apply dolomite lime to prevent the soil from becoming too acid over the winter months. If the PH level is too high, your grass won’t be able to absorb nutrients properly.
	Weeding is more important now than ever! Many weeds establish their roots during late summer/early fall. To prevent weeds for the spring, weed your gardens in the fall.
	If you haven’t yet, be sure to bring your tropical plants indoors! Don’t forget to check them over for pests before hand, so you don’t bring them in too.

Flowers

	Plant fall bulbs and fall perennials now, for beautiful spring blooms!
	Start taking fuchsias and geranium cuttings. This will allow your plants to become dormant during the winter, saving their energy for Spring.
	Check your local nursery for decorative displays of Asters, Coneflower, Sunflowers, Mums, Heathers and more!
	Check your zones to see what is best to sow in October!
	The best selection of fall bulbs is available now. Wildwood Outdoor Living has the largest selection around, online and in-store! Be sure to plan out your garden ahead of your visit to make sure you have the right growing conditions for your bulb choices.

Vegetables

	Begin storing onions, carrots, and beets in dry peat moss or “Beats Peat” to absorb excess moisture and keep them well insulated. This will also prevent small rodents like mice from getting to them.
	Check for fresh veggie starters in store, like radishes, peppers, lettuce, herbs, kohlrabi and more!
	Pumpkins and Squash are ready for harvesting!
	Last opportunity to harvest late-end corn and tomatoes!
	Check your zones to see what is best to sow in October!
	The best selection of fall bulbs is available now. Wildwood Outdoor Living has the largest selection around, online and in-store! Be sure to plan out your garden ahead of your visit to make sure you have the right growing conditions for your bulb choices.

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