Gardening & Planting Tips for October

Buy Now: Spring-Blooming Bulbs
  Fall is the time to start planting bulbs such as daffodils, snowflakes, and Spanish bluebells. (In the Coastal South, you have more time before you need to begin planting.) These spring blooms are some of the best perennials for Southern gardens. They are drought tolerant and long-lived and will multiply in your yard. Plant them in a spot that will receive at least six hours of sun a day while the leaves are green. They can take a bit of dappled light but won’t bloom in shade. These bulbs like soil that is loose and well-drained. Set bulbs twice as deep as they are tall, and water well after planting. Check out the bulbs in the Southern Living Plant Collection, and order online from The Southern Bulb Company.

Gather Pumpkins
These October icons are available in multiple colors at farmers’ markets, grocery stores, and roadside stands. Easy-to-find heirloom pumpkins offer a wide mix of shapes and colors. Buying tip: Select ones that are firm and unblemished. Keep them cool and dry, and they’ll last for months.

Plant Camellias
Sasanqua camellias are graceful evergreens that are starting to flower now. Try the ‘Orchid,’ ‘Inspiration,’ and ‘Snow’ selections in the October Magic series from the Southern Living Plant Collection. Sasanquas prefer moist, acid, well-drained soil in a location with filtered light. In the Upper South, plant in sheltered spots. You can also try cold-hardy hybrids, such as ‘Polar Ice’ and ‘Winter’s Charm,’ in the Upper South. For a good selection of camellias online, visit camforest.com.

Plant Pansies
Adding fall flowers to your containers and flowerbeds now allows roots to get established before cold weather sets in, so don’t delay. Place transplants in a sunny spot in rich, well-drained soil. When planting in pots, good drainage is important. (Be sure containers have holes.) This ‘Matrix Red Wing’ pansy is perfect for pots or borders. Also consider trying cold-tolerant Plentifall series pansies. Other flowers to plant now include dianthus, snapdragons, calendulas, and diascias.

Prep Soil
Before you start your fall plantings, amend the soil in your flowerbeds and vegetable plots. When the ground is dry, use a garden fork to loosen the dirt to about 1 foot deep. Add organic matter, such as chopped leaves or composted manure, to improve drainage and fertility in clay or sandy soil.