UGA Cooperative Extension

Putnam County Cooperative Extension Office:
Lake Country Master Gardener Association (LCMGA)

October Garden Tips

First Week  

• Clean up debris around plants and destroy if diseased.
• In the vegetable garden, plant collards, lettuce, onion sets, spinach, radish and mustard.
• Divide and replant perennials.
• October is a good month to plant and transplant roses, just cut them back and move them.

Second Week

• Dig and store tender bulbs.
• Time to plant fescue and other Fall grasses.
• Plant pansies, fertilize with 10-10-10.
• A good time to plant shrubs, trees and perennials. Water in well.
• Roses are on their second bloom season. Keep spraying with fungicide until the first hard frost.

Third Week

• If you don't have a compost bin---start one.
• Don't burn what can be nature's gold. It is so easy to build and will provide you a super amendment.
• Mulch leaves/grass and collect in your grass catcher. Put a six-inch layer in the bin.
• Add fertilizer, corn meal for the worms and water until moist and wait for the bacteria to do their job.

Fourth Week

• Continue to plant trees and shrubs.
• Plant peonies. Shallow planting is a must. They need the cold, so no need to mulch.
• Check your hollies and camellias for scale and spray with oil emulsion.

Fifth Week

• Stop fertilizing roses until next Spring. Also stop deadheading to allow rose hips to form. Most birds enjoy them.
• Get ready to bring in houseplants. Check them for disease and spray before bringing them in.

FROST can occur anytime after October the 28th, so be prepared.