Cover crops (green manure) can be planted in October and November. A mixture of vetch, clover and annual rye works very well. If you are not familiar with the benefits of a cover crop in your vegetable garden, give us a call. Or, you can pick up a copy of our Cover Crop handout the next time you visit Valley Nursery.
October is the time for planting spring blooming bulbs and garlic. Try adding crushed oyster shell or chicken grit (available from farm feed stores) to the soil to help keep your bulbs safe from chipmunks, voles and squirrels and other bulb pilferers. Put a thin layer both above and below the bulbs.
Keep fall fruit picked up under trees to help control overwintering insects and diseases. If fungal leaf problems were present this year (Cherry, Peach or Plum trees) raking and destroying the leaves once they fall is a good idea.
For easy leaf clean up use fruit tree bird netting to cover small shrubs, flower beds, and ponds to catch leaves as they fall.
Clean out bird feeders and bird houses for next year’s tenants.
Winterize Asparagus and Rhubarb plants by cutting down tops once frost has turned the tops brown and mushy. Cover the crowns by applying heavy mulch (2 to 5”) of Bumper Crop Soil Builder or well-rotted chicken manure.
Put strawberries to bed for the winter. Cover the entire patch with half an inch of manure and 2 to 3 inches of Straw (Oct – Nov).
Remove dead or dying annuals from flower beds and dead or dying vegetables from the garden.