October 2025

There’s still time to plant bulbs for spring flowering.  Be sure to water them several times after planting.  Continue to water shrubs and trees until we get a frost.

Clean, oil and store garden tools so they won’t rust during the winter. Store clay pots upside down in a dry space not touching each other so they won’t crack when freezing temperatures come along. 

Rake up any fallen leaves around shrubs and roses that may have had diseases or mildew. Do NOT compost them. Put them in the trash. The temperature of your compost pile may not be hot enough to the kill diseases.  Leaves that are clean can be shredded and added to your compost pile. Or if you have a wooded area that you don’t mow, the leaves can be a great mulch.

Still time to plant garlic. Use the largest cloves. You will be harvesting it next year in the early summer. If you have a sunny window, some herbs do very well inside on a windowsill. Parsley, chives and basil also freeze beautifully. Do NOT wash them first. Just shake off any soil or debris before freezing. Pick your green tomatoes before the fall frost. Store them in a cool dry place, not touching each other or in the sun.  They will ripen fast. ( I use an open cardboard box.) 

Time to rest your amaryllis bulbs. Break off any remaining leaves. Shake off any soil and store them in a dry cool space. Repot for the holidays in mid-December. 

Put your suit and seed feeders out for the birds as temperatures cool. It’s great entertainment watching them feed. Reduce feeding inside plants. As the shorter days arrive,  most will go dormant. Water them less too.

What ornamental tree is called a strawberry tree? It’s native to Asia. And very hardy and nearly disease resistant. Blooms in mid to late June and produces colorful fruit in the fall. A winning combination. The Cornus Kousa dogwood of course ! It makes a strawberry like berry in the fall. The fruit is safe for consumption by humans and animals. Squirrels, especially like it. The outside skin is a bit bitter, but the inside pulp is sweet. Some countries use it in their recipes, especially for sweets and jams.  My Cornus Kousa has very few fruits this year because of the drought. But last year it was spectacular!