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.