10 Gardening Activities for October in the South

1. Harvest, Harvest, Harvest

Some of the main crops to harvest this month are pumpkins, gourds, and winter squash. You’ll know that the fruits (yes—pumpkins, squash, and gourds are fruits!) are ready to harvest when the vines and leaves begin to yellow and die back. They will reach their full color (orange, white, dark green, etc.) and the skin should resist puncturing if you push your nail into it. Harvest before any hard or heavy frost, which will destroy them. Watch this video on how to tell if your pumpkins are ready to harvest. Harvest any other produce you have and consider preserving batches for use later in fall and winter. The Joe Gardener website has a great podcast and article with techniques for preserving your harvest.

2. Plant Native Southern Wildflowers

Native wildflower seeds are best to plant in fall. Extra moisture through fall and winter will help seeds establish. The first step is to make sure the space is free of competing grasses and weeds. Soil should also be rich in organic material and nutrients. To improve soil quality, apply a layer of compost before scattering seeds. Use a roller to ensure good seed to soil contact and water evenly. Watch this video for an overview of planting wildflower seeds. If you’re looking for a wildflower mix, be sure to get one designed for your area. In the south, use a Native Southeast Wildflower Seed Mix.

3. Plant Bulbs, Corms, & Tubers

Plant bulbs with an eye towards succession planting so your bulb flowers appear continuously throughout spring. Crocus, snowdrops, and Iris reticulata bloom in early spring. Hyacinths, daffodils, and fritillaria come up in mid-spring. Bluebells, daffodils, allium, and late tulips make an appearance in late spring. Check out this chart on bloom times. To plant bulbs, plant at a depth of roughly three times the bulb height. So if the bulb is 2 inches tall, you’ll plant it 6 inches deep. A bulb auger helps make planting individual bulbs easier.

4. Remove Tender Perennials

In many of the climates throughout the South, it’s best to dig up tender perennials for winter storage. Plants such as dahlias, elephant ears, bananas, cannas, caladium, and others should all be removed from the garden for winter and stored in a cool, dark location.

5. Give Your Property a Little Maintenance

Clearing gutters, sealing decks, and re-caulking windows are all chores you do around the house to keep it in good condition. The garden needs similar care and attention in the fall to prepare for colder temperatures. A few tasks to put on your list for October: Give garden beds a good layer of compost and mulch—this will provide roots with adequate nutrients for next spring. If you have deer fencing, check it for breaks, holes, or areas that need repair. Fill up bird feeders. Check irrigation lines and landscape lighting. If you get hard frost in your area, blow out irrigation lines to prevent damage to your system.

6. Remove Fallen Leaves

Fallen leaves make great amendment for your garden, and it helps if you have an easy way to collect them. Try using a leaf vacuum and mulcher. After they’re mulched, leaves can be applied over garden beds or added to compost piles. Dry, carbon-heavy leaves help balance nitrogen-rich green waste such as lawn clippings.

7. Start Sweet Peas

Sweet peas are a staple of cutting gardens and flower gardens. They are gorgeous and often have a wonderful fragrance. In locations with mild winters (Zone 7 and above), you can sow sweet peas in fall. If you’re in a colder climate, wait until winter to start sweet peas (start seeds six to seven weeks before your last spring frost). It’s best to grow them in growing pots first to develop roots before you plant them outdoors in early spring around the last spring frost. For detailed instructions on how to plant sweet peas, visit Floret or watch this video from Renee's Garden.

8. Plant Trees and Shrubs

Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. Warm days, cooler nights, and more consistent rains create perfect growing conditions for roots to get established. To plant trees and shrubs, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and as deep as the root ball. It’s better for the trunk flare to be a little above the soil level instead of below grade which can cause girdling roots, less leaf formation, underdeveloped leaves, and stunted height. Watch this video on how to plant trees. If you need ideas for selecting trees, visit a local botanical garden or get Michael Dirr’s The Tree Book which has recommendations.

9. Visit a Botanical Garden

Spring is often bursting with flowers, summer is filled with events and shows, but there’s still so much to see at botanical gardens in the fall. It’s also a practical time to visit because you can get lots of inspiration and ideas and then go home and act on them, as fall is such a good time to plant. Here are a few botanical gardens throughout the South that are worth a visit: Naples Botanical Garden, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Norfolk Botanical Garden, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Cheekwood, and more.

10. Clean & Maintain Garden Tools

As the season winds down, you’ll put many of your garden tools away for storage. Before storing tools, give them a little TLC. For tools that come in contact with plants such as loppers, snips, pruners, spades, shovels, or garden forks, rinse them with rubbing alcohol. This helps prevent spreading plant diseases, and it’s actually a good practice that should be done regularly during the season. After cleaning, spray metal tools with a lubricant and cleaner to protect them from rust and corrosion. If you have wood handles, sand rough spots or splinters. Terrain sells nice tool maintenance kits. Apply a coat of linseed oil to help restore and protect wood handles. Store tools in a dry location. Get more advice on how to care for your garden tools.