October Gardening To Do List

• Finish planting container-grown trees and shrubs
• Plant needle-bearing evergreens early in the month
• If the month is dry, repeat the September soaking
• Check ties on trees, and loosen any that look tight
• Finish bulb planting early in the month
• Cover compost to keep it warm and working
• Observe trees for fall color; jot names of the best in your notebook
• Dig dahlia roots after tops are frosted

Zone 2

• Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
• Protect roses for winter

Zone 3

• Start fall compost pile
• Cover perennial, vegetable, bulb, and strawberry beds for winter
• Plant winter- and spring-flowering bulbs
• Divide and replant crowded fall-blooming bulbs after leaves yellow
• Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
• Protect roses for winter

Zone 4

• Start fall compost pile
• Cover perennial, vegetable, bulb, and strawberry beds for winter
• Plant winter- and spring-flowering bulbs
• Divide and replant crowded fall-blooming bulbs after leaves yellow
• Buy spring-blooming bulbs
• Plant container and balled-and-burlapped fruit trees
• Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
• Plant, feed, and aerate cool-season lawns and loosen thatch
• Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
• Divide and replant summer- and fall-blooming perennials after bloom
• Protect roses for winter
• Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
• Plant balled-and-burlapped trees
• Plant trees in containers
• Plant frost-tolerant trees

Zone 5

• Start fall compost pile
• Plant winter- and spring-flowering bulbs
• Divide and replant crowded fall-blooming bulbs after leaves yellow
• Buy winter- and spring-blooming bulbs
• Plant container and balled-and-burlapped trees fruit trees
• Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
• Plant cool- and warm-season lawns
• Aerate cool-season lawns and loosen thatch
• Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
• Divide and replant summer- and fall-blooming perennials after bloom
• Plant container roses
• Protect roses for winter
• Plant container and balled-and-burlapped trees, shrubs, and vines
• Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
• Plant frost-tolerant trees

Zone 6

• Start fall compost pile
• Plant winter- and spring-flowering bulbs
• Divide and replant crowded fall-blooming bulbs after leaves yellow
• Buy winter- and spring-blooming bulbs
• Plant container and balled-and-burlapped fruit trees
• Plant permanent ground covers
• Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
• Plant and aerate lawns and loosen thatch
• Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
• Divide and replant summer- and fall-blooming perennials after bloom
• Plant container roses
• Protect roses for winter
• Plant container and balled-and-burlapped trees, shrubs, and vines
• Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
• Plant frost-tolerant trees
• Plant needle-leafed evergreens

Zone 7

• Plant or repair lawns
• Plant ornamental grasses
• Cover perennial, vegetable, bulb, and strawberry beds for winter
• Plant winter- and spring-blooming bulbs
• Pre-chill tulips and hyacinths for indoor forcing
• Plant balled-and-burlapped or container fruit trees
• Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
• Rake lawn to remove debris
• Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
• Plant container roses
• Plant balled-and-burlapped or container trees, shrubs, and vines
• Prune fall-flowering shrubs just after bloom
• Protect tender plants from frost

• Plant for fall and winter color
• Plant winter- and spring-blooming bulbs
• Plant balled-and-burlapped and container fruit trees
• Prune frost-sensitive fruit trees
• Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
• Plant or repair lawns
• Plant ornamental grasses
• Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
• Plant fall- and winter-blooming perennials
• Prune fall-blooming shrubs and vines just after bloom
• Plant seedlings of cool-season or winter vegetables
• Sow seeds for cool-season or winter vegetables

Zone 9

• Plant for fall color with annuals
• Buy winter- and spring-blooming bulbs
• Feed and water cacti or succulents that are growing or blooming
• Feed houseplants that are growing or blooming
• Repair or plant lawns
• Rake lawns to remove debris
• Sow frost-tolerant perennials indoors
• Plant fall- and winter-blooming perennials
• Prune fall-flowering shrubs and vines just after bloom
• Plant or transplant seedlings of cool-season or winter vegetables
• Sow seeds for cool-season or winter vegetables

Zone 10

• Plant annuals for fall color
• Set out fall and winter-blooming plants
• Plant winter- and spring-blooming bulbs
• Feed and water cacti and succulents that are growing or blooming
• Feed houseplants that are growing or blooming
• Plant winter-blooming perennials
• Prune fall-flowering shrubs and vines after bloom
• Sow cool-season vegetable seeds
• Start seeds for cool-season or winter vegetables

Zone 11

• Finish planting spring-blooming bulbs
• Plant container-grown trees and shrubs
• Feed and water lawn to encourage overseeded grass
• Prune back summer- and fall-blooming shrubs
• Allow rose hips to form; it will encourage early dormancy in bushes

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