As the air cools and the days grow shorter, October marks a pivotal time in the gardening calendar. Fall is here, which means it is officially time to make the list of everything we gardeners are supposed to do before winter. Clean up the beds. Amend the soil. Plant the fall crops. Mulch. Compost. On and on. It is an impressive list, and for the moment, we are going to pretend we are absolutely going to do all of it. After all, making the list is the first step.

There may be plenty to do, and if we don’t quite get to everything on the list? Well, there is always November.

What to Plant:

1. Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs

We all know that fall is the time for planting spring flowering bulbs. This is a great, easy project that will give you so much joy come springtime. October is the ideal time to plant bulbs that will burst into bloom next spring:

Wondering what bulbs to plant? Here are a few of our favorites.

• Daffodils
• Paperwhites
• Tulips
• Crocuses
• Blue grape hyacinth
• Hyacinths

Plant them in well-drained soil at two to three times their own depth. Choose a sunny or lightly shaded spot and add some bulb food for an extra boost.

2. Plant a Fall Garden

October is also a great time to put in a few short season cool weather vegetable crops. These are the types of vegetables we think about for our Thanksgiving table.

So what vegetables can you plant in your October garden? Super short season veggies are best, and those that don’t mind maturing in cooler weather. Broccoli and cauliflower don’t even mind some frost and even a light snow. My favorites are:

• Brassicas such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage and kale
• Alliums such as onions, garlic, shallots, leeks and chives — Garlic loves the cold. Plant individual cloves about 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart. They’ll start rooting before the frost sets in and reward you with a summer harvest.
• Root vegetables such as carrots, beets and radishes.
• Artichokes and sun chokes

3. Plant Winter Greens

If your climate is mild, you can still grow a salad garden. Sow or transplant:

• Spinach
• Swiss chard
• Kale
• Mizuna
• Winter lettuce varieties

Use cloches or cold frames to protect young plants from frost.

4. Plant Cover Crops

To improve soil structure and fertility over winter, consider sowing nitrogen fixing cover crops like:

• Winter rye – a good cover crop that traps nutrients and improves soil structure
• Field beans – for extra nitrogen
• Crimson clover – excellent source of additional nitrogen for your soil
• Hairy Vetch – an excellent nitrogen fixer
• Peas and Legumes – Nitrogen based cover crop
• Mustard – a great cover crop that protects the soil from pests and soil-borne pathogens

These act as a natural mulch and green manure, reducing erosion and boosting nitrogen and other nutrients for spring planting.

5. Plant Hardy Trees and Fruit Trees

Fall is a perfect time to plant hardy trees and shrubs. The soil is still warm enough for roots to establish before winter, and rainfall is more regular.

Other Garden Jobs for October

1. Clear Spent Crops

Remove dead or dying annuals, spent vegetables, and any diseased plants. Cut warm-season vegetables at the base of the plant, leaving the roots to decompose naturally. Completely remove anything showing signs of disease. This helps prevent pests and pathogens from overwintering in the soil.

2. Compost and Mulch

Add garden waste to your compost bin (avoid anything diseased). Spread mulch around perennials and shrubs to insulate roots and reduce weeds.

3. Prune (But Not Everything)

• Prune back herbaceous perennials once they’ve died back.
• Cut dead or diseased branches from trees and shrubs.
• Avoid heavy pruning of roses, wisteria, or spring-flowering shrubs—save that for later or early spring.

4. Maintain Fruit Trees

October is also the perfect time to attend to your fruit trees. Right before dormancy is a really good time to asses your trees to see what they need before they enter winter.

• Pruning out dead or dying branches (do not prune healthy branches now if you live in a cold region or they could be damaged in freezing weather)
• Organically treat peach trees for curl

5. Divide and Replant Perennials

Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of perennials like:

• Hostas
• Daylilies
• Rudbeckias
  This gives them a fresh start and encourages healthier growth next year.

6. Prep Your Lawn

Rake fallen leaves, aerate compacted soil, and apply autumn lawn feed to strengthen grass ahead of winter.

7. Protect Tender Plants

Move succulents and other tender potted plants indoors or into a greenhouse. Alternatively, you can move them to a more protected spot if you’re trying to push and harden your garden a bit. Wrap pots with bubble wrap or fleece to insulate them from frost.

Final Thoughts

October is a month of both winding down and gearing up. It’s a time to savor the last blooms, tidy your beds, and quietly plant the promise of next spring. A bit of time now means a more vibrant, healthy garden come March.