Monthly Gardening Tasks – October October 1st, 2016

October Garden Checklist

• Irrigation controller seasonal adjustment should be set to 45%- Plants still need water but the shorter days and cooler nights reduce their water needs.
• Time for planting- Fall is the best time to plant new landscapes. The soil is still warm, but the weather is not too hot and it is the beginning of the rainy season so irrigation is not as critical. Landscapes have the best chance of surviving if planted in the fall.
• Plant cool season annuals such as Pansies, Violas, Primroses, Calendula, Chrysanthemums
• Fertilize lawn with a high nitrogen fertilizer.
• Lawns. Fall is an ideal time to plant grass seeds or lay sod. Prepare the bed thoroughly. Rotary-till the soil, turn in plenty of organic matter (such as compost), and apply a lawn fertilizer for new lawns (follow package directions).
• Start you Rain dances: California gets 95% of its rain from October- April. The later it starts the more we need to get each month – Ideally we get an average of 2-3″ each month so that more water soaks in and less runs off causing flooding and slides and other rain associated issues.
• Halt snails. Cool, damp fall weather brings on snails. To control these pesky creatures, apply a bait containing iron phosphate which is safe to use around edible crops, children, pets, and wildlife. Or you can surround the edges of pots and raised beds with copper barrier tape.
• Harvest the last of the summer vegetables as well as the first crop of the fall vegetables
• Lightly breakup top layer of soil. Add gypsum to heavy clay soils.
• Remove spent flowers. Cut back plants finished blooming to 4-6″ above ground.
• Dig up, divide, replant and fertilize all early blooming perennials not divided in the past 2 years.
• Planning– It is never too early to start planning for Spring garden. Especially if you want to make some significant changes – Spring installations ( which really is the latest you should install a garden) really need to start the design process NOW! Call VVM Designs to schedule your consultation