Planting
Fall tree planting begins this month.
Transplanting
This month may still be too early to transplant trees. You can ready trees for transplanting next month by performing root pruning on them now. By cutting some of the long roots this month, new ones are formed closer to the trunk within the area of the soil that will be moved with the plant.
Push a sharp-shooter shovel straight down, then pull straight out. Form a circle of connected cuts around the tree, make the circle the size of the root ball you are going to dig.
Fertilizing
Do not fertilize with any quick release nitrogen fertilizers this month.
Pest Control
Scale infestations can be sprayed with a lightweight horticultural oil. Spray several times about 10 days apart.
Pruning
Remember that spring flowering trees have already set their flowerbuds so don’t prune them now.
Water
Temperatures may become milder during this month but it can still be dry. Make sure that you keep enough water on recently planted trees and use sprinklers on larger, established trees.
Planting
Container grown roses can be planted this month.
Transplanting
Wait until the weather is cooler to transplant roses.
Fertilizing
No fertilizer is needed for the rest of the growing season.
Pest Control
Cooler, dryer weather will reduce blackspot.
Pruning
Only deadheading and pruning out diseased or dead growth, no pruning is required this month.
Watering
October can be one of our driest months. Water roses deeply as needed.
Planting
Plant ryegrass seed this month.
Fertilizing
Winterize your lawn at the end of this month. This helps the grass not only make it through winter, but gives it a boost in spring!
Pest Control
Brown patch may appear if the weather is unusually wet. Apply weed prevention aids to the lawn to control cool-season annual weeds.
Mowing
Do not mow an over seeded lawn the first time until the new grass is 1 – 2 inches high.
Watering
Do not allow turfgrass to go into dormancy without receiving adequate water. Water deeply and thoroughly if a good rain does not occur for 0 to 14 days during this time of year.
Planting
As the weather cools container grown plants can be planted without the fear of stress due to high temperatures of the last few months.
Transplanting
It is still too early to transplant unless the weather has been unusually cool.
Fertilizing
No fertilizer is necessary this time of year for established shrubs.
Pest Control
Azalea lace bugs will be active through November.
Pruning
This is normally not a good time of year to prune shrubs.
Watering
October can be one of our driest months. Although the temperature is cooler your shrubs still need at least ½ to 1 inch of water every 5 to 7 days. If the rain doesn’t fall, then supplemental watering is necessary.
Planting
October is a great month to plant container grown perennials.
Transplanting
Many perennials can be dug and transplanted over the next couple of months.
Fertilizing
Water in newly planted perennials with a water-soluble fertilizer mixed half strength.
Pest Control
As the weather cools off diseases should diminish. Watch for armyworms – large, dark caterpillars that can chew up a perennial plant in no time.
Pruning
Continue to deadhead and cut back spent growth.
Watering
Cooler weather doesn’t always mean more rain. Watering is still needed if it does not rain regularly.
Planting
If the weather has cooled off enough you can begin to plant cool season annuals in your beds.
Fertilizing
Fertilize annuals when you plant them.
Pest Control
Moths and Caterpillars can be a major problem.
Watering
Water plantings as needed.