October is a time of transition as a warm start gives way to shorter days, chilly nights, and frosty conditions for many growing areas. With quick and cold-tolerant crops, the kitchen garden keeps producing this month. The right selections yield sweet rewards, even with frost.
Versatile across growing zones and garden spaces, hostas are ready to fill the role of top shade performer. Their dynamic foliage and durable nature make them handsome, easy-care, and long-lived perennials. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe explores award-winning and top-performing hosta varieties to plant in October.
Spring bulbs bring a welcome splash of color at the end of winter. Bring that spring color right up to your front porch with these beautiful spring bulb combinations.
Mums, or chrysanthemums, bloom in full at the end of the growing season. Their colorful buds provide a showstopping display of color; use some tricks to extend these blooms as long as possible. Seasoned grower Jerad Bryant shares expert tips for extending mum blooms with pinching and deadheading.
If you live in a warmer location, October is the perfect time for planting shrubs. Join farmer Briana Yablonski to learn about some shrubs that will help beautify your landscape.
Fall isn’t the only season for red leaves. Some trees have them year-round! Then, the red-leaf trees turn brilliant colors in autumn. Scatter them about the yard to brighten up the space, or use one as a focal point in the garden. Join former nurseryman Jerad Bryant to discover 11 trees with red leaves all year.
It’s rewarding to plant a vegetable once and have it supply multiple seasons of harvests. No turnover, and easy picking! Some of our favorite perennial vegetables do best with a fall sowing, depending on the climate and selection. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe outlines reliable perennial vegetables to plant in October for lasting yields.
Fall is prime for planting bulbs in containers for a cheerful welcome to spring. It’s also the time to force bulbs for holiday displays and gifts. With easy planting in endless combinations, the nearly effortless arrangements bring a big show.
October is perfect for refreshing your front porch containers. Whether to make a spooky statement or invite coziness, the front porch is an integral part of the home. Join gardening expert Melissa Strauss for some creative and fun options for your October front porch containers.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to plant vegetables this October for harvests during the cold months! Start some from seeds and others from starts. Find out which ones to plant alongside backyard gardener Jerad Bryant.
Garden mums are easy-care perennials with a big show in the fall. They bring seasonal color and support for pollinators as summer transitions to cooler weather. For years of performance, planting the best selection at the right time and in the right spot yields nearly effortless rewards.
Most plants prefer pruning after they bloom, or in late winter and early spring. Fall pruning is a rare occurrence! If you’re wondering which shrubs you should prune now, wonder no more. These are the 11 shrubs that benefit from fall pruning, with guidelines on how to do it.