Fall Lawns
This is a good time to kill next year’s crop of common chickweed, Poa annua, and crabgrass. First, apply a pre-emergence crabgrass control after October 15.
This will kill tiny seedlings of winter annuals like Poa annua and common chickweed (now germinating), and next spring will work equally well on crabgrass.
Fall-seeded lawns may need their first cutting now. If the grass has grown 2″ inches or more, cut it, no matter how sparse. It is too late to sow any more seed now; wait until spring.
Winter Storage of Vegetables
If a killing frost is predicted, get pumpkins, squashes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant under cover. Even a light frost damages these vegetables, but a light freeze won’t hurt root crops.
Be ready to throw straw or similar light mulch over endive, Chinese cabbage, and spinach if temperatures of 25° degrees Fahrenheit or lower are predicted. These vegetables can often be kept in excellent shape for Thanksgiving dinner if not subjected to severe freezing.
Chrysanthemums
These can be easily moved in full bloom to fill out bare spots where color is needed. Such late-moved plants may winter-kill but are worth using when they can be spared. To protect established chrysanthemum plants for the winter:
- Try lifting the entire clump (after blooming) with a fork until it is above ground level, allowing enough soil to sift underneath to hold it in this position.
- Cover the entire clump with soil.
- In spring, separate into single-stem divisions or take cuttings from new growth.
Dahlias
When should dahlia tubers be dug?
If fall is open and warm, freezing weather may not occur until November. However, it does not pay to risk leaving them in after November 1 over most of the Midwest, as a severe freeze may catch you by surprise.
Instead, lift the clumps (as described above for chrysanthemums) and let them rest on top of the soil for a few days before storing. Then, if sudden freezing threatens, they are easy to pick up and bring indoors.
Gladiolus
Dig the corms five weeks after the last blossom on the stalk fades, regardless of how long warm weather remains.
Trees To Plant In Spring
Certain trees should not be moved or planted in the fall. Instead, wait until spring to plant cherry, magnolia, peach, and birch.
Goodbye to Borers
It’s easy to do away with borers that leave their telltale tracks about lilacs, peaches, apples, flowering almonds, and some other trees. The new borer control chemicals effectively kill borers. Look for evidence of fine sawdust at tree base to indicate their presence.
Bulbs for Winter Bloom
It will soon be time to pot up tulips, hyacinths, and narcissus for bloom indoors this winter. Bury the pots outdoors and cover them with a heavy mulch.
For very early bloom, bulbs are best held at as near 48° degrees Fahrenheit as possible. Bring into a light, cool window when shoots are 3″ inches out of the bulb.
House Plants
Keep two or three bags of potting soil to have on hand for potting house plants. Make certain you will have enough for your spring seedlings.
MidWest – October Questions and Answers
Question: When is the best time for planting roses, spring or fall?
Answer: In the Midwest, except close to the Ohio River, most gardeners prefer to plant in the spring.
Question: Should I cut off the tops of peonies before winter?
Answer: Yes. Then spray the soil with a good fungicide. This prevents botrytis bud blast next spring.
Question: I can’t seem to find a source of buckwheat hulls for mulching, but a local dealer can supply malting barley hulls. Are they good?
Answer: Except for color, they are equal to buckwheat hulls in every respect. Barley hulls are silvery yellow.
FGR1060 – by C Milton – Illinois