Fall Into Good Gardening Habits

Transplant Time

October is an ideal time to start the process of moving trees and shrubs to their new home in your yard. Ideally, you will root prune this month and wait to move the plant four weeks later. Doing so gives woody ornamentals an opportunity to recuperate before transportation and promotes small feeder roots near the trunk – these allow the plant to adapt more effectively in its new spot.

A few root pruning tips:

• Generously water the soil the day before root pruning
• Prune out from the trunk up to a foot diameter for every inch of trunk diameter
• Use a flat spade to cut a trench about two feet deep, cutting large roots with loppers; continue cutting a circular trench around the trunk and give it plenty of water

Get Houseplants Ready For Winter

If you gave your houseplants a vacation outside this summer, it’s time to make the trek back inside. If they grew significantly in their exterior digs, prune them back a bit, removing dead stems and leaves. Use clippers on woody stems. If the roots are growing out of the drainage holes or up to the surface of the soil, it’s time for a larger pot – opt for one just a size larger than the former one. Prevent pests from making their way inside the home by spraying the plant gently with a garden hose and a light wipe with a sponge. 

Make Your Beds

October is the perfect time to prepare new garden beds for next spring. Try these tips:

• Mark the desired bed space or extensions of current beds with a hose or marking paint.
• Cut an edge to turn the dirt into the new bed before covering with up to 10 layers of newspaper.
• Place about four inches of composted leaf mulch or chopped-up leaves on top of the paper. Nature will take over from there and you’ll be ready for planting in the spring.

Plant Your Veggies

Cool-season crops to plant include spinach, collards, lettuce and cilantro. If the fall is dry, give them a good drink before the winter hits to ensure they have a solid foundation for the winter hibernation.