October 15^th

The October Gardener by Beth Nardone

"Fall is for Planting!" It seems that every garden center has this banner beckoning customers to come and shop. Is it all just advertising hype or is this really a planting season? Experienced gardeners know the value of fall planting. Conditions are usually perfect for planting. Soil temperature and moisture are conducive for root growth, letting plants establish before winter. It is a cool, comfortable and colorful time for the gardener as well.

October is an excellent time to be planting evergreens, deciduous trees and shrubs, ground covers, hardy perennials and spring flowering bulbs. New plantings should be watered in at planting time and during dry spells until the ground freezes. In our area that occurs sometime in late December or early January. When selecting landscape plants try to choose trees and shrubs with good fall color or offer some winter interest and not just ones with beautiful spring flowers. Berries, unusual bark patterns or plant shape can enhance the landscape during the winter months ahead.

After the long winter months nothing cheers the gardener's spirit more than the burst of color that the crocus, daffodils and tulips bring. But the bulbs of these flowers need to be planted now. Select an area that has good drainage. Wet sites will impair root growth and the bulbs may rot. Clay soil can be improved by adding some organic matter such as compost, humus or peat moss. A bulb booster fertilizer or bone meal can be added to the planting hole as well. Most bulbs are sold with planting depth instructions. But in general the smaller bulbs (crocus, snowdrops) are planted 4" deep, while the larger bulbs (daffodils, tulips) are planted 6-8" deep. Bulbs always look best planted in clumps of at least five. For a naturalized or informal look try tossing the bulbs onto the garden bed and planting them where they land. Next spring it will look as if Mother Nature had planted them for you!

If you are short on space try a layered planting. For example, start with tulips at a depth of 8". Cover the tulips with a couple inches of soil. Then add crocus followed by more soil in the same space. The crocus will bloom first and the tulips will follow a few weeks later.

In the vegetable garden, Columbus Day marks the time to plant the garlic. The garlic will start growing roots now and then sprout its green shoots next spring. Harvest will be during July. Purchase garlic heads from a garden center or grower that has varieties for northern gardens. Supermarket garlic may not be suited for our area. Separate the heads into individual cloves and plant each one 1" deep and 6" apart. Use only the plump outer cloves. The tiny pieces in the center of the head can be planted in a pot for a kitchen windowsill. The sprouting greens can be used in salads and recipes for a mild flavoring.

Once frost hits, usually in beginning of October, garden clean up begins. A clean garden helps prevent pests from over-wintering. Annuals and finished vegetable plants should be removed from the garden. Perennials that are finished and browning can be trimmed back to within a few inches from the ground. If any of the discards show signs of disease throw them in the trash. Otherwise, this plant material can be added to the compost pile. Bare patches in the vegetable garden can be planted with a cover crop. The easiest is a winter rye. It sprouts quickly in the cool weather. And next spring it will be turned under to provide a green manure which improves the soil.

Keep the falling leaves raked. Thick layers of leaves left on the lawn for long periods of time can kill the grass. Shred the leaves by passing over them a couple of times with the mower. Use them as mulch around perennials and shrubs or add them to the compost pile.

Soil samples from our area are usually found to be acidic. October is an excellent time to apply lime to sweeten the soil. Lime takes time to work its way into the soil to where the grass plants get the benefit. The freeze and thaw cycle of our winter will work the lime into the soil to start working next spring. And if dandelions have been a problem now is a good time to treat them.

As Halloween approaches, fall color is all around us… changing leaves, pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn. Add some asters, mums, pansies, ornamental cabbage and kale to your garden. Yes, fall is for planting!

Beth Nardone, botanist, is a resident of Hillsborough and is the Nursery Manager at the Belle Mead Farmer's Coop. Inquires and comments can be sent to bethtanical@hotmail.com