October 3 2005

The long hot summer is over, at least according to the calendar. Autumn 

has arrived and with it the return to cooler temperatures and hopefully 

more reliable rainfall. The pleasant weather makes it more enjoyable to 

work in the garden. The summer annuals and late perennials are looking 

good right now, but it is time to think about preparing for the first 

frost.

In the vegetable garden clean up the plants that have finished bearing. 

Dispose of all diseased and insect infested plants, everything else can 

go in the compost pile. Work in a layer of compost or manure to refresh 

the beds for next spring. This would be a good time to turn over the 

soil to expose any grubs. With the large beetle population this summer 

grubs will be plentiful. Let the birds take care of the grubs and other 

larvae that surface.

After the first frost it is sad to see the dead plants in the vegetable 

garden. But you can get a head start on next year’s harvest by planting 

garlic this fall. Wait till the middle of October, around the same time 

that you plant daffodils and tulips, to plant your garlic. Each 

individual clove will grow into a full head by next summer. A planting 

of garlic takes up very little space, as the cloves are planted just a 

couple of inches apart.

Houseplants that have spent the summer outside need to be cleaned up 

and 

returned to the house before the first frost. Give them a good strong 

spray with the hose to dislodge insects and spiders. Spray them with 

insecticidal soap to prevent aphids, mites, mealy bugs and scale. These 

insects can be a problem indoors later on. Some of the plants may have 

overgrown their pots during their time outside. Repot to the next sized 

pot as necessary. Many of the annual plants in the garden or containers 

will continue to grow and bloom indoors for several more months. 

Impatiens, begonias, geraniums and coleus are examples. Depending on 

available space and size of the plant you may want to save a few for 

indoor color. Be sure to treat for insects before bringing them in. 

Most 

will require at least good bright like to grow in the house.

The popular tropical plants hibiscus and mandevilla can also be over 

wintered indoors. In a sunny location they will continue to grow and 

even flower occasionally. If a sunny location is not available or space 

is limited they can also be kept in a dormant state in a cool area such 

as a basement. Reduce the watering to about once a month, just enough 

to 

keep the roots alive and the soil from drying out completely. Next 

spring they can go back outside once the weather warms.

October is one of the best months to plant or divide peonies. Each 

peony 

section should have at least three eyes. Plant the sections shallow, 

with the eyes no deeper than two inches below soil level. Peonies 

flower 

poorly if planted too deep. Allow adequate spacing for the new plants, 

at least 18 inches apart. Lilies can also be planted this month. Plant 

the tubers six inches deep to develop strong stems. Planted now the 

lilies will put on a nice show next summer.

The summer flowering bulbs of dahlias, gladiolas, cannas and begonias 

need to be dug up from their summer home, whether in the ground or 

containers. After the first frost dig them up and remove the dead 

foliage. They can be stored in paper bags or boxes filled with dry 

vermiculite or peat moss. Check them periodically for rotting.

The beginning of October is the time to start setting up deer 

protection 

for the winter. All young trees with a caliper around two inches should 

be protected with tree wraps to prevent bark damage from bucks. They 

will be marking territory now for the rut season in November. Deer will 

also strip bark when they are hungry. Several gardeners have already 

seen this type of damage on their properties this month. Set up 

physical 

barriers around the deer’s favorite species of trees and shrubs for the 

best level of protection. Yews, arborvitae and azaleas are particular 

favorites. Repellants work best when they are applied before the deer 

sample a plant. Start a spray schedule now and then repeat the 

application in November before the daytime temperatures are below 40 

degrees. Many repellants last at least 3 months during the dormant 

winter season.

Beth Nardone, botanist, is a resident of Hillsborough and is the 

Nursery 

Manager at the Belle Mead Co-Op. Questions and comments can be sent to 

bethtanical@patmedia.net