PLANTING AND SOWING
Plant fall perennials (mums, fall asters, copper canyon daisies) now.
There is still time to sow wildflower seeds. Consider bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, coneflower, gaillardia, black-eyed Susan, evening primrose and many others.
FERTILIZING AND PRUNING
Apply a high-nitrogen or all-nitrogen fertilizer to your lawn early this month. This early-fall feeding is perhaps the most important one of the year.
Wisterias that don’t bloom well may need to be root-pruned. Use a sharpshooter spade to cut horizontal roots 15 to 18 inches away from the plant’s trunk.
THIS AND THAT
Divide spring-flowering perennials such as irises, Shasta daisies, gaillardias, Rudbeckias, cannas, daylilies, violets, liriope and ajuga.
GARDEN WATCH
Applications of pre-emergent weed killers must be made early this month, before seeds begin to germinate. Depending on which weeds you are targeting, it may be necessary to apply two different products: one for broadleafed winter annuals such as henbit, dandelions, and chickweed, and one for grassy winter weeds such as Rescuegrass and annual bluegrass.
Apply a final treatment of Image or Manage before mid-month to control nutsedge in your lawn and garden beds.
Eliminate fire ants in your landscape by broadcasting a labeled bait while temperatures are between 70 and 90 degrees. Follow label directions closely to achieve best results. Individual mounds that are located in problem areas such as near house foundations, garden beds, and high-traffic areas can be eliminated by using a labeled mound drench. Contact your County AgriLife Office for more information.
PLANTING AND SOWING
Plant daffodil, grape hyacinth and crocus bulbs in well-prepared beds, so the base of the bulb is at a depth that is three times the diameter of the bulb. Plant slightly higher in clay soils.
Trees and shrubs planted now will have well-established root systems by next summer’s heat wave.
Cool-season annuals (pansies, pinks, snapdragons, ornamental kale) that were started in August can be transplanted as soon as daytime temperatures are 90 degrees or cooler.
FERTILIZING AND PRUNING
Apply one cup of lawn fertilizer per cubic yard to your current compost pile and mix it in with a spading fork. Keep the pile moist and warm over winter to hasten microbial activity.
Holly plants with a heavy set of fruit often suffer a fertilizer deficiency. An application of complete fertilizer late this month can be helpful and provide a head start next spring.
THIS AND THAT
Chill tulip and hyacinth bulbs in the refrigerator until mid- to late December before planting. The lower part of the refrigerator is best. Do not leave bulbs in airtight plastic bags and avoid storing them with fruit.
Keep Christmas cactus evenly moist and where night temperatures can be kept below 65°F or new buds will drop. They should also be kept in total darkness from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. for about 30 days beginning mid-month to initiate flower buds.
There is still time to divide and reset such perennials as phlox, violets, hollyhocks, irises, daylilies and Shasta daisies.
GARDEN WATCH
October is a good time to reduce the insect and disease potential in next year’s garden. Clean up the garden, removing all annuals that have completed their life cycle. Remove the tops of all herbaceous perennials that have finished flowering or as soon as frost has killed the leaves.
