October lawn and garden tips
Watch out for:
Lawns
White grubs — The bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis does a nice job on Japanese Beetle grubs, but it does take a little time to build up in the soil. Bacillus thuringiensis does not, however, control other types of grubs.
If you have an area that looks like something has been digging there, you probably have grubs, with some form of wildlife digging them up for a snack.
Things to do:
Flowers
Bulbs — It’s time to plant those spring-flowering bulbs you purchased in September, such as daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and crocus.
Soil test — Now is the time to test the soil in your planned beds for plant nutrients. Soil tests usually take 10 days, so test now to have the results when you plant bulbs and beds. It is important to till in the lime needed (if any) for faster soil pH adjustment.
You may also sample your vegetable garden now if you do not plan to add more fertilizer for late crops.
Fruits
Fruit sanitation — Begin inspecting your fruit trees. Be sure to remove any mummified remaining fruits, and rake up and dispose of old leaves and branches that may harbor diseases over the winter.
Lawns
Fertilizer — You may choose to add some nitrogen to zoysia and Bermuda lawns this month that have been overseeded. DON’T fertilize non-overseeded, warm-season grass lawns late in the fall! If you have not soil-tested your lawn areas in the past 12 months, now is a great time!
Lawn establishment — If you plan to plant a cool-season (fescue) lawn, the best time to plant is between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. Wait until next spring for warm-season grasses. Unhulled Bermuda seed (Bermuda seed with the hulls still on the seed) can be planted now, but spring planting of hulled seed will provide a better stand.
Henbit — This nice little lawn weed can be a problem. Treat now to prevent its return this summer.
Nutsedge or “nutgrass” — Nutsedge is very difficult to control. There are two main types in our area — purple and yellow. You must identify which you have before you begin treatment. Herbicides must be applied when the nutsedge is growing, which means decent soil moisture and warm conditions.
Irrigation — As this month progresses you will continue to cut back on your irrigation amounts.
Ponds
Pond stocking — September through January are good months to stock bream in a fishing pond.
Pond liming — September through January are also good times to lime the pond bottom if necessary.
Trees
Leaves — Leaves are beginning to fall. If you have space and a little time composting is a great option; if not, you can also till them into any fallow beds you have or the vegetable garden.
Plan ahead — If you plan to plant some trees or shrubs this year, begin thinking about which plants you would like now, and find retailers that carry those varieties. You have plenty of time, but you certainly do not want to miss your favorite at the last minute.
Vegetables
Garden clean-up — Half the tomato disease battle in a vegetable garden is sanitation. As tomatoes end their production remove them from the garden and take them to a landfill. Many diseases will over-winter on old infected leaves and stems.
— Clemson Extension