By Jessica Strickland, Wayne County Horticulture Extension Agent
With fall weather finally settling in across Wayne County, October presents an ideal opportunity for gardeners to enjoy working outdoors while preparing their landscapes for the changing seasons. Whether you’re maintaining a lawn, tending to ornamental beds, or wrapping up the vegetable garden, these timely tips will help ensure a smooth transition from summer to fall.
Soil Testing: The Foundation of Success
Before the busy spring season arrives, now is the perfect time to collect soil samples from lawns, landscape beds, and vegetable gardens. Getting a soil test completed in October allows adequate time to receive results and apply necessary amendments before next year’s growing season begins.
Lawn Care Strategies for Winter Preparation
Hold the Nitrogen
Homeowners should resist the urge to apply nitrogen fertilizers to their lawns this late in the season. As soil temperatures decline, warm-season grasses naturally enter dormancy for winter. Nitrogen applications after August can stimulate untimely growth and increase the risk of winter injury to turf.
Potassium for Winter Hardiness
While nitrogen fertilization should cease, there’s still important work to be done. An application of potassium or potash fertilizer from late summer into early fall significantly improves winter hardiness in lawns. Apply 1.5 pounds of 0-0-60 (muriate of potash) or 2 pounds of 0-0-50 (potassium sulfate) per 1,000 square feet approximately four to six weeks before the first expected frost.
Managing Leaf Fall
The picturesque autumn leaf display requires regular attention from homeowners. Accumulated leaves can suffocate lawns if not raked every few days, with newly established lawns being particularly vulnerable to damage from this spent foliage.
Trees, Shrubs, and Ornamental Plants
Perfect Planting Weather
October’s cooler temperatures make it an excellent month for installing trees and shrubs in the landscape. When planting, avoid the common mistake of placing plants too deep in the soil. Newly installed plants benefit from supplemental watering up until the first frost arrives.
For winter color, now is the prime time to plant pansies. These cold-hardy flowers thrive in well-drained soil and require thorough watering after planting, along with a layer of mulch. Monitor soil moisture carefully for the first three weeks until roots become established.
Protecting Perennials
As herbaceous perennials die back for the season, apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch to insulate root systems through winter. This protective covering also helps conserve moisture and suppress weed growth.
Natural Needle Drop
Homeowners shouldn’t panic if evergreens such as pines, junipers, arborvitae, and yews begin shedding interior needles. This natural process occurs annually during fall and doesn’t indicate a health problem.
Houseplant Transition
Before the first frost threatens, begin bringing houseplants indoors for winter. Clean plants thoroughly and inspect them carefully to avoid introducing unwanted insects or pests into the home.
Rose Disease Prevention
To reduce black spot problems on roses next year, remove and discard summer mulch and debris from beneath plants after leaf fall. Replace the old material with fresh winter mulch to break the disease cycle.
Vegetable Garden and Orchard Management
Clean Up for Disease Prevention
Once the vegetable harvest concludes, remove all remaining plant material from the garden. Leaving plants in the ground over winter can harbor insects and diseases that will create problems in the following growing season.
Cover Crops for Soil Health
Rather than leaving garden beds bare through winter, consider planting cover crops such as rye or crimson clover. These crops prevent soil erosion and contribute valuable organic matter when turned under in spring.
Record Keeping
Take time now to document which vegetable varieties performed well this season and which disappointed. These notes prove invaluable when planning next year’s garden and selecting seed varieties.
Jessica Strickland is an Agriculture Extension Agent specializing in horticulture for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Wayne County.
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