Ornamentals
Continue watering,
especially evergreens if soils are dry.
Nuts or seeds of woody
plants usually require exposure to 3 months cold before sprouting. This may be
provided by outdoor planting in fall or "stratifying" in an unsealed
bag of damp peat moss placed in the refrigerator.
Container grown and B
& B trees and shrubs can be planted. Loosen the soil in an area 2
times the diameter of the root ball before planting. Mulch well after watering.
Plant spring bulbs
among hostas, ferns, daylilies or ground covers. As these plants grow in the
spring they will hide the dying bulb foliage.
For best bloom later
this winter, Christmas cactus, potted azaleas and kalanchoe may be left
outdoors until night temperatures drop to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
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 12 to 15 weeks.
Cannas and dahlias can
be dug when frost nips their foliage.
Allow the plants to dry
under cover in an airy, frost-free place before storage.
Transplant deciduous
trees once they have dropped their leaves.
Plant tulips now.
Trees may be fertilized
now. This is best done following soil test guidelines.
Lawns
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
lawns to prevent smothering grass.
Now is a good time to
apply lime if soil tests indicate the need.
Winterize lawn mowers
before storage.
Vegetables
Sow cover crops such as
winter rye after crops are harvested.
Harvest winter squash
and pumpkins before frost. For best storage quality, leave an inch or two of
stem on each fruit.
Dig sweet potatoes
before a bad freeze.
Gourds should be
harvested when their shells become hard or when their color changes from green
to brown.
A few degrees of frost
protection may be gained by covering tender plants with sheets or light-weight
fabric row covers.
Continue
harvesting tender crops before frost.
The average first frost
usually arrives about October 15-20.
Fruits
Store apples in a cool
basement in old plastic sacks that have been perforated for good air
circulation.
Persimmons start to
ripen, especially after frost.
Monitor fruit plantings
for mouse activity and take steps for their control if present.
Place wire guards
around trunks of young fruit trees for protection against mice and rabbits.
Fall color season
begins.
Begin peak fall color
in maples, hickories and oaks.
End of peak fall color.
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