September 26 – October 2

1. Plant for winter color: pansies, violas, alyssum, primroses, stock and snapdragons will all brighten your garden
this season.
2. Your lawn will do better during the winter months if you get rid of pests and diseases now.  Dethatch or aerate if
needed.
3. Watch for aphids on your chrysanthemums. Check with a nursery professional for the best non-toxic control.
4. When planting bulbs, be generous with the bone meal.  Place some at the bottom of the planting hole, add a little
dirt and then the bulb so it doesn’t touch the bone meal

October 3 – 9

1. Tend to the roses! Remove dead wood, twiggy growth, leaves with spots or mildew.  Do not prune them now.
2. Feed camellias and azaleas lightly during the winter months to develop their blooms.
3. If you need a ground cover, plant it soon. If planted now, the root system will become established before spring
arrives and growth accelerates.
4. Plant snapdragons for a bounty of color in your winter garden.

October 10 – 16

1. Don’t let dahlia bulbs stay in the ground during the winter. Lift them when the tops have dried.
2. Keep cleaning out the falling leaves from the flower beds to prevent pests and diseases from taking up residence.
3. Stop feeding garden roses now because they are heading into their dormant period.
October 17 – 23
1. Remove the weeds as they crop up in bulb beds. Planting the beds with a cover of annuals such as pansies will
keep the weeds to a minimum.
2. Lightly fertilize any bonsai if you didn’t do so earlier this fall.
3. There’s still time to plant bulbs. Consider putting some in containers so you can enjoy the flowers on your patio or
by the front door.

October 24 – 31

1. If the plants in your outside containers have died, don’t put the pots on the shelf until spring– plant your favorite
annuals and perennials for fall and winter.
2. Cut back or even discontinue fertilizing your houseplants as they start their winter dormancy.