October Landscape Checklist

As of September 23, it’s officially fall! Cue the pumpkins, apple cider, and bonfires! The weather normally takes a while to realize that it’s actually fall but isn’t this cooler weather glorious! After the summer we all had to endure, I think we all will gladly welcome some cooler temperatures!

Get outside and enjoy the nice weather by spending some time working in your lawn! There’s quite a lot to do to make sure your landscape stays in tip-top shape.

1. There are many annuals and perennials that are perfect for adding color to your landscape, especially during fall and winter. Pansies, violas, flowering cabbage and kale, English daisy, coneflowers, larkspur, and Queen’s Anne Lace are great annuals to plant in containers! A few perennials to plant include asters, salvia, hollyhock, daylilies, iris, Shasta daisy, peonies, and phlox. You’ve got plenty of options to choose from!
2. Mums are a classic fall plant. Like many plants, mums require much attention for them to look their best. Fertilize your mums with complete fertilizer every two weeks, stopping once blooms appear. To water the mums, you need to make sure you add your water at the base of the plant. Do not pour water directly on top of the blooms! Wet leaves make it easy for fungal growth to set in, so avoid pouring water on the blooms and leaves.
3. Two plants that need to be pruned back are blue salvia and dianthus. Cut them back to the ground and add a layer of mulch. They may even last through the winter and bloom again! 
4. If you have caladiums in your yard, you can dig them up now while the foliage is intact to extend their longevity! Dry them, remove any dried foliage, and store them in peat moss in a cool, dark place. You can replant them next year! 
5. Now is a great time to inspect the trees in your yard for any damaged or dead wood! As the leaves fall, it’s easier to spot limbs that need to be removed. Prune back any limbs or branches that are noticeably dead or damaged. Information Sheet 204, “Pruning Landscape Plants,” offers techniques for pruning back landscape plants that might be helpful! https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/pruning-landscape-plantss
6. One of the best parts of the autumn season is watching the leaves change colors and fall. If you have several trees in your yard, you know how much of a chore it is to rake your leaves each year. Keep your lawn tidy by staying on top of raking fallen leaves. 
7. If you haven’t already, now is the best time to apply preemergence herbicides to your lawn to prevent weeds from popping up in the spring!
8. Spring seems so far away, but now is the time to start planting bulbs if you want a nice pop of color in your lawn. Daffodils, daylilies, and iris are great spring-flowering plants that can be planted now. Wait to plant tulips and hyacinths until December or January.

The “off-season” is also a great time to test the soil in your lawn. Our blog posts on how to take a soil sample and how to read your results are great reads!