October Planting Guide

October is a month of adding most permanent additions to the landscape, ignoring ground covers, bare-root plants, and tropicals.  Fall planting is utilized to get plants into the ground before rain.  Roots will take advantage of the winter to become established and rewards can be seen the following summer. Summer vegetables and flowers should be pulled up at this time, while winter and spring plantings should be finishing up.  Get vegetables into the ground as soon as possible.
Vegetables include: Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Collards, Lettuce, Onions, Peas, Potatoes, Radishes, Spinach, and Turnips.
Hebs:  Chamomile, Chives, Cilantro, Dill, Lemon grass, Mint, Parsley, Thyme.
Bulbs:  Anemone, Crocus, Daffodil, Freesia, Hyacinth, Bearded and Dutch Iris, Ranunculus, and Tulips.
Natives: Arbutus, Cercis, Heuchera bells, Manzanita, Matilija Poppy, Salvia, Yarrow.
Perennials: Japanese Anemone, Asters, Centranthus ruber, Columbine, Delphinium, Foxglove

Trees, Shrubs, and Vines: Most trees, vines, and shrubs should be planted now, for best results.  Hedge and accent shrubs should be planted—Pittosporum, photina, lavender star flower, yew pine.  October planting vines includes: Carolina jessamine, cape honeysuckle, lilac vine, and ivy.
Roses:
Roses should be waters twice a week up to 1 ½ inches of water.  The last fertilizing of the year takes place this month.  Continue any dead-heading to prep for any later buds.
Flower Beds and Containers:
Plants should be switched from summer-to-winter annuals and perennials by the end of the month.  Nourish soil in preparation for winter and spring bloom transplants.  Cool season blooms may include: Calendula, cyclamen, cineraria, delphinium, dianthus, flowering cabbage, pansy, perennial candytuft, English primrose, snapdragon, stock, sweet Willium, sweet Violet.  Plant as soon as possible and provide them with food and adequate light for growth and blooms.

Lawn Care:
Cool season lawns (ryegrass, bluegrass and fescue) are beginning to grow faster than their warm season counterparts (Bermuda and St. Augustine).  Re-sharpen mower blades if necessary.  Make sure to uproot any pestering crabgrass.
Fertilize:
Continue to feed fuschia and keep on nourishing blue hydrangeas with aluminum sulfate.  Do not fertilize tropical water lilies, but supply hardy water lilies that seem to need some extra help.  Fertilize cool season lawns this month, as well as warm season ones to keep them green.  Discontinue feeding for chrysanthemums.

Vegetables
Sweet peas, lettuce, and many members of the Brassicaceae family such as broccoli, cauliflower, thrive in the dry, cooler fall season of September. Broccoli does best planted after Santa Ana winds die down. Broccoli, as well as cabbage and cauliflower, requires full sun and regular water, harvest should be ready early winter. Sweat peas, planted in September will be ready come December for harvest.

Flowering Plants
Wildflowers, snapdragons, poppies, and pansies will add color to your Southern Californian garden after weeding out the summer flowering plants. Seeds or transplants will work. Check for specific placement needs according to your particular region for each plant selected. Plant Bearded Iris rhizomes in September, which will provide showy flowers throughout the winter. Bearded Irises require at least half a day of sun.

Grow Organic at Home offers a variety of garden essentials, from seeds to fertilizers and growing kits. Check out our store at http://www.groworganicathome.com