October 2021 Gardening Tips

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Annuals- Pansies and Iceland Poppies, Calendula.  

Shrubs- Spiraea japonica, Early blooming Camellias, Lavender (try 'Hidcote' for smaller plant with dark purple flowers).

Veggies - Bok Choy, Spinach, Peas.

Bulbs- Freesia, Daffodils, Anemones, Ranunculus, Alliums.

Wildflower Seeds - Bachelor Buttons, Coreopsis, Clover. 

Extras - Frost Cloth (also called Row Cover), Wooden Clothes pins to hold cloth to stakes or stems. Dormant Oil Concentrate.

• Bulbs - Find the best selection by shopping early in the month. Choose bulbs and tubers that are heavy for their size and blemish free. Plant in November.  
• Pansies and Iceland Poppies - These two annuals need to be planted during the first two weeks of October here in Sonoma County in order to perform well all winter. Keep them deadheaded (remove spent flowers and their stems to keep them from going to seed) to encourage them to bloom all winter long. For more about caring for Pansies watch The Gardening Tutor video: How to Choose and Care for Pansies. 
• Food for the birds - If you grew sunflowers or Amaranth this summer you can allow the flowers to go to seed for the birds. Fennel is another great seed source for our feathered friends! Cut long stems and attach to fencing where you can watch the birds feeding from inside the house.
• Pest Management - To protect young veggie starts from pests use a lightweight row cover (may need to uncover on hot days so veggies do not die from too much heat inside the cover). Instead of putting the cover right on top of the plants, use something to suspend the cover over the plants and tuck in the sides. Not every veggie garden needs row cover but it's good to have choices. When planting pansies and other winter annuals bait for pests, such as snails, slugs, earwigs and sow bugs. Continue to bait for or hand pick pest insects throughout winter (drop pests in hot, soapy water to kill them). Fruit Trees- Clean up all fruit from the ground and old fruit from fruit trees. This practice helps manage pests and fungal diseases.
• Mulch- Compost makes a great mulch for flowering plant beds. Winter annual bloomers will do much better with compost as mulch instead of bark-type mulches.  This is also a good time to move bark aside and put a three inch layer of compost around shrubs and other plants in bark areas. Remember to make the compost layer very thin near the trunk. This layer of compost will feed the soil and improve plant health. After applying compost water well and cover back over with the bark.  
• Irrigation- Before applying a layer of mulch check drip irrigation for leaks and clogged lines.