With heavy frost settling in across cold climate zones, the harvest winds down and the garden prepares for winter. As nature does most of the work for us, a few garden tasks this month set the foundation for healthy overwintering while enjoying the remaining bounty of the season.
October lets us relish the heart of fall in zones 6 and 7, with zone 8 warmth lingering a little longer. Mild days, cool nights, and shorter daylengths trigger seasonal change. With frost right around the corner, garden accomplishments now prepare for healthy overwintering. The garden checklist this month also includes enjoying the easy beauty and harvests that fall brings.
If you're adding native wildflowers to your garden this year, there's something important that you need to know. Join Florida gardener Melissa Strauss to talk about native wildflower seeds and the purpose of stratification.
Shorter days and colder temperatures mean birds, mammals, and insects are busy preparing for the winter ahead. Join farmer and critter enthusiast Briana Yablonski to learn how you can make your October garden friendly to wildlife.
Fall is the best time for sowing many types of seeds. If you want a wildflower garden, now is the time to start! Join Florida gardener Melissa Strauss to learn how to prepare your beds for fall sowing.
Early and late fall bring respective pruning duties, from deadheading to cutback, for our flowerbeds. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe explores the differences between deadheading and pruning, as well as the timing and reasons behind both this season.
Gardening gives rise to inventive techniques, many of which come from longstanding home methods! This trick is one of those, and it’s especially useful for deterring pests from bird seed. Discover what garden pests hate alongside seasoned grower Jerad Bryant.
Now is a great time to remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood before winter. To do this, you’ll need some tools! These nine are superb for pruning in fall, and they’re essential for safety. Join seasoned landscaper Jerad Bryant to learn which ones you’ll need.
Leaving the garden a little wild is becoming quite trendy. That cottage garden, wildflower meadow aesthetic has some excellent benefits to the environment and the gardener's workload. Beekeeper and pollinator enthusiast Melissa Strauss shares some perennials you should leave standing this winter.
Don’t jump the gun! Cleaning up too much, too early, or too late in the season can kill your perennials. It’s best to use minimally disruptive cleanup methods for the fall. Grab a rake, get your gloves on, and prepare to clean up the garden with holistic, non-harmful methods.
October marks a winding down for many plants in the garden. As plants begin their journey into dormancy, it's prime time for getting some important garden chores done. Here is a checklist of essential chores to accomplish this month.
Fall is a great time of year for planting. Many vegetables love some cool weather, and other plants thrive in the conditions that fall provides. Join gardening expert Melissa Strauss to find out what you can add to your garden in October.