October Garden Notes

PLANNING AND GARDEN JOURNAL 

• Refer to your gardening journal for your list of fall tasks.
• Make note of how well your annuals performed.
• Add photos to help for next year.
• Order fruit trees for next year, many nurseries have online preordering.
• Time to start planning and preparing new gardening space for early spring planting.
• Start paperwhite narcissus indoors for a December bloom.
• Plant bare root deciduous trees, shrubs, and vines (e.g., caneberries, fruit and nuts, grapes, and roses). Plant California natives. Select species and cultivars well-adapted to your local site.

 LANDFILL DIVERSION

• Composting

o   What are Hot and Cold Methods? Link

o   Visit our website for more information. Link

o   Vermiculture – Worm Composting Link

• Grass cycling – See below under “Lawn” section
• Rake up leaves on lawns. Use fallen non-diseased leaves as mulch or add to compost bin as carbon material.
• Pull nonperforming annuals, chop up insect/disease free plants and add to compost pile.
• Right Plant Right Place – Select the plant for the mature size, climate conditions, sun requirements, and irrigation needs.

WATCH OUT FOR INVASIVES

• Invasive Weeds of Humboldt County 3^rd Edition Link
• Invasive Plant Checklist for California Landscaping Link
• Green Gardening Brochure Link
• CAL-IPC Humboldt Website Link
• Remove seed heads from invasives.

VEGETABLE GARDENS

• Planting times gleaned from The Humboldt Kitchen Gardener by Eddie Tanner

• Time to sow seeds for coastal areas in October:
• Lettuce, Spinach, Cilantro, Dill – Greenhouse or coldframe
• Radishes, Asian Greens, Arugula – March through late October
• Peas – Greenhouse or coldframe September through October
• Garlic – September through October
• Oats, Rye – September through October
• Time to sow seed for inland areas:
• Lettuce, Spinach, Cilantro, Dill – mid-August through mid-October,
• Lettuce, Spinach, Cilantro, Dill – from mid-October to late February Greenhouse or coldframe
• Radishes, Asian Greens, Arugula – late July through early October
• Peas – Greenhouse or coldframe mid-September through late October
• Garlic – mid-September through late October
• Wheat – September through mid-October
• Plant cover crops in vacant space in your vegetable garden. UC Davis Cover Crop Database
• Additional vegetable gardening information can be found on Humboldt/Del Norte Master Gardener website link

BERRIES AND MISCELLANEOUS FRUITS

FRUIT AND NUT TREES – Gleaned from UCANR The Home Orchard Publication

• Note: not all fruit/nut trees listed may be suitable to plant for your area. Make sure to select the tree and variety that will do best for your location.
• Apricots
• If not sufficient rainfall - Irrigate every one to three weeks to a depth of 18 to 24 inches.
• Cherry
• If not sufficient rainfall - Irrigate every one to three weeks to a depth of 18 to 24 inches.
• Fig
• If not sufficient rainfall - Irrigate every one to three weeks to a depth of 18 to 24 inches.
• Peach/Nectarine
• If not sufficient rainfall - Irrigate every one to three weeks to a depth of 18 to 24 inches.
• Pecan
• If not sufficient rainfall - Irrigate every one to three weeks to a depth of 18 to 24 inches.
• Persimmon
• If not sufficient rainfall - Irrigate every one to three weeks to a depth of 18 to 24 inches.
• Pistachio
• Remove mummies and fallen nuts
• Plums/Pluots/etc
• If not sufficient rainfall - Irrigate every one to three weeks to a depth of 18 to 24 inches.
• Pome Fruit – Apple/Pear/Quince
• If not sufficient rainfall - Irrigate every one to three weeks to a depth of 18 to 24 inches.
• Control codling moth. IMP Link
• Harvest season – times vary for climate and varieties
• Pomegranate
• If not sufficient rainfall - Irrigate every one to three weeks to a depth of 18 to 24 inches.
• Harvest season – times vary for climate and varieties
• Walnuts
• If not sufficient rainfall - Irrigate every one to three weeks to a depth of 18 to 24 inches.
• Harvest season – times vary for climate and varieties 

• Add to your gardening library – UCANR Publication The Home Orchard Link Use Promocode PRHUM12 for a 10% discount.
• Additional fruit and nut tree information can be found on Humboldt/Del Norte Master Gardener website Link 

INDOOR PLANTS

• Check for sufficient light, as there is less available window light. Plants with high light requirements may need to be moved to a different window or benefit under an auxiliary light. Use full spectrum lights for plants.
• For those houseplants that you have outside, it is time to bring them inside before your evening temperatures start dropping below 50 °F. Make sure to look them over closely as you do not want to bring in insects, slugs, and snails. Take the garden hose and give it a good rinse off. Remove damaged leaves.
• Plants start to slow growth and that is the time to start reducing the frequency of water. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch.
• Feed your plants one time this month. Do not feed succulents.
• Lower humidity due to heated homes. Group plants together. Misting does not help.  Caution when setting plants on top of tray filled with pebbles and water, as it can lead to waterlogged soil (make sure water is well below the pebbles).
• Additional indoor plant information can be found on Humboldt/Del Norte Master Gardener website link 

LANDSCAPE – ANNUALS, PERENNIALS, GRASSES, FERNS

• Plant early spring bulbs.
• Apply mulch to help retain heat and moisture.
• Divide overcrowded lilies.
• For seed saving, let the annuals go to seed, as well as for providing food for wildlife.
• For the colder areas, now until early October is the time to plant new perennials, grasses, and ferns. For USDA zones 7-9 plant September through mid-November.
• Herbaceous peonies – divide and plant September through October.
• Remove seedheads from invasive grasses.
• Weed flower beds.
• In highly visible areas groom while leaving less visible areas less groomed for nesting beneficial insects. In those lesser visible areas leave patches of bare soil for ground nesters.
• Deadhead perennials.
• As the heavy rains start, stop fertilizing. Use organic mulch to slowly add nutrients into the soil.  

LANDSCAPE SHRUBS AND TREES

Once you sense autumn weather it is time to plant woody plants. Planting in the fall allows for root growth before spring. UC IPM planting woody plants Link Plant bare root deciduous trees, shrubs and vines. 

• Shrubs
• Clear away fallen leave that are touching stems adjacent to the ground.
• Do not prune during the fall season.
• Do not fertilize this month.
• Irrigate only if rain is not sufficient. 

• Trees
• Assess tree health. If you see any problems contact the Master Gardener Help Desk.
• Irrigate only if rain is not sufficient.
• Do not fertilize this month.
• Roses
• Clean up fallen leaves. Do not add diseased leaves to compost.
• Remove leaves that have not dropped to clear away diseased leaves and to help the plant into dormancy.
• Time to transplant and plant new plants.
• Stop deadheading to promote dormancy.
• For new plants or transplanted roses irrigate if rain is not sufficient.

LAWNS

• Good time to aerate which helps with air and water to move easier. Aerating helps to create stronger grass roots. Water a few times before aerating. Aerating Link
• Mow as needed. Consider grasscycling. Mowing Your Lawn and Grasscycling Publication 8006 Link
• Rake leaves on lawn. Use non diseased leaves as mulch or add to compost bin.
• Check and repair sprinklers as needed.
• Newly installed lawn may need watering if not sufficient rain. Established lawns normally don't need irrigation.
• If you haven't been watering regularly, give at least one deep watering this month.
• Fertilize - Check schedule for types of grass.  Link to UC IPM When to Fertilize
• The Guide to Healthy Lawns UC IPM Link 

LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION

• Adjust watering schedules according to the weather and plants' changing need for water. Check systems for leaks and broken emitters and perform maintenance as needed. Consider upgrading the irrigation system to improve its water efficiency.
• Towards the end of the growing season, some plants may benefit by reducing the frequency of irrigation to help plants harden off to prepare for fall and winter. 

IPM – Integrative Pest Management

• Abiotic Disorders – Prevent or manage damage caused by aeration deficit, herbicide, salinity, soil pH, sunburn, wind and too much or little water.

• Ants - Manage around landscape and building foundations, such as using insecticide baits and trunk barriers. UC IPM Link
• Aphids - On small plants, spray a strong stream of water or apply insecticidal oils and soaps. Look for and conserve natural enemies such as predaceous bugs, lacewings, lady beetles, and syrphids. UC IPM Link
• Bacterial blasts, blight, and canker – Inspect apple, citrus and especially Prunus spp (e.g., stone fruit). Remove entire affected branches in the summer. UC IPM Link
• Black sooty mold – Black and oily leaves indicate an infestation of scale or aphids. UC IPM Link
• Citrus - Monitor for damage and pests such as leaf miner. UC IPM Link
• Carpenter Bees – Paint or varnish and seal wood in which they nest. UC IPM Link
• Carpenterworm – Project trees from injury and provide proper cultural care, especially appropriate irrigation. UC IPM Link
• Clean up mummies and old fruit and nuts in and under trees to avoid harboring pests. UC IPM Link
• Codling moth of apple and pear - Bag fruit. Promptly remove infested and dropped fruit. Apply insecticides only if precisely timed. UC IPM Link
• Coast redwood dieback – Check for drought-stress related maladies such as abiotic disorders, bark beetles, fungal diseases, and spider mites. UC IPM Link
• Compost - Turn and keep it moist. UC IPM Link  
• Crane flies – common in Humboldt causing damage to lawns. UC IPM Link
• Frost – Protect sensitive plants from cold injury when freezing or frost are predicted. UC IPM Link
• Fungus gnats - Generally from overwatering house plants.  UC IPM Link
• Mulch – Apply organic mulch where thin or soil is bare beneath trees and shrubs. UC IPM Link
• Pine bark beetles, pitch moths, western gall rust, and wood borers – If pines need branch removal, prune during October through January UC IPM Link
• Powdery mildew – distinguished by gray cover of powdery mildew can be seen on some plants as evenings become cooler and overapplication of nitrogen fertilizer. UC IPM Link
• Rainfall – Prevent water ponding around trunks and foundations. Improve drainage. Install downspout diverters to direct runoff into landscape soils but avoid waterlogging soil. UC IPM Link
• Root rot - Favored by excessive water and poor drainage. Avoid overirrigation and waterlogged soil. UC IPM Link
• Slugs – August through September is their prime egg producing time. They are light tan round eggs and can be found under a log or mulch. Good idea to remove and toss them away from your garden to be dinner for spiders and black ground beetles. Or just smash those little beasts. UC IPM Pest Link
• Wasps and yellow jackets are both a friend and foe. They can be vicious while being a beneficial insect predator. They are most active during the warmest part of the day. UC IPM Pest Link

• Weeds – Manage weeds using nonchemical methods such as cultivation, handweeding or mowing.  UC IPM Link

EXCELLENT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

*Get a 10% discount for UCANR books purchased online at UCANR's Book Store. Use promocode PRHUM12.

• Humboldt/Del Norte Master Gardener Website Link
• Humboldt/Del Norte Master Gardener Help Desk Link
• University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Integrative Pest Management Link
• * University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication - The Home Orchard Link
• * University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication – Pests of the Garden and Small Farm Link
• * University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication – Abiotic Disorders of Landscape Plants Link
• * University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication – Pests of Trees and Shrubs Link
• * University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication – Master Gardener Handbook Link
• * University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication – Healthy Roses Link
• Month-By-Month Gardening Pacific Northwest, by Christina Pfeiffer with Mary Robson, ISBN-10‏:‎ 1591866669 

• The Humboldt Kitchen Gardener, by Eddie Tanner, ISBN: 978-0-615-20900-5 (Out of print, look for used copies)
• Insects of the Pacific Northwest, by Peter and Judy Haggard, ISBN 10: 0881926892 (Out of print, look for used copies)
• Pacific Northwest Insects by Merrill A. Peterson ISBN-10:0914516183

 Image by Melk Hagelslad from Pixabay