October, by Robert Frost
O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
Their crows above the forest wall;
Their clouds are low and hairy in the skies,
Like locks blown forward in the gleam of eyes.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.
Mr. Frost pleads with October to slow that inexorable slide into winter. So many of us feel the same way. Like spring, fall seems to go too quickly, leaving us with days that seem too short and cold nights that threaten frost at the most inopportune time. But take heart, October in zone 8A is a wonderful opportunity for every gardener. It is the very best time to plant all manner of things, so they can establish roots over the cool winter. And the days are cool enough that heat stroke is no longer a major concern.
Cool-season vegetables (plant from seed or starts) like: Lettuce, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, arugula, mustard and collard greens.
Root vegetables: Radishes, carrots, beets, turnips and even parsnips.
Brassicas: broccoli, Cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts (These are often best from transplants for a head start).
Alliums: Onions (from sets or seeds), garlic, and shallots. Garlic is especially important to plant in October! I tried garlic last year for the first time ever on the advice of another master gardener in Athens and the results were excellent. I spent about a dollar on a couple of garlic heads at the grocery store and I still have garlic in my kitchen. Plant in the Fall and harvest when the leaves turn brown in late Spring. No muss, no fuss.
Spring-blooming bulbs and rhizomes: Get “species” tulips, daffodils, and alliums in the ground now for a beautiful spring display. Be aware that “regular” tulips will not come back in the second and third year. The “species” type tulips will do much better.
Perennials like coneflower, Black-eyed Susans, salvia, heuchera, hellebores, and some of my personal favorites’ ornamental grasses. And here’s a quick tip on perennial herbs, such as chives, lavender, oregano, thyme. These overwinter well in the ground. In our area simply wait until we get a hard freeze and then cut back tall herbs to within four to six inches of the ground. They’ll be back next spring.
Trees and shrubs of just about every type will do well when planed in the fall. The warm soil and cool air are ideal for establishing new landscape plants. They’ll focus energy on root growth without the stress of summer heat.
By the way, the Augusta Area Master Gardeners are having a huge plant sale on Oct. 11 at Pendleton King Park, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. They will have everything that you might want to plant this Fall at great prices. Stop by and say “hey.”
Lawns: Strongly consider renting an aerator and aerating your lawn which has probably become compacted during the year.
Remove spent plants: Pull up dead or diseased annuals and vegetable plants. Crucial: Do not compost plants that were diseased; discard them in the trash to prevent spreading problems.
Weed thoroughly: Removing weeds now prevents them from getting a head start in the spring.
Light pruning: Deadhead spent flowers on perennials. It’s nice to leave some standing perennial seed heads (like coneflowers) to provide food for birds and winter interest. You can do a VERY LIGHT shaping of shrubs but avoid heavy pruning that might stimulate tender new growth just before frost.
Feed your soil now, and it will feed your plants later.
Add organic matter: Spread a 1-2 inch layer of finished compost or well-rotted manure over your garden beds. The winter weather will slowly incorporate it into the soil.
Plant a cover crop: In vacant vegetable beds, consider sowing a cover crop like crimson clover or winter rye. This “green manure” prevents erosion, suppresses weeds, and adds nutrients when turned under in spring.
Test your soil: If you haven’t gotten a soil test in two years, fall is a great time to get a soil test. You can amend the soil based on the results now or in early spring.
“October is the month for planting, and I am its humble servant.” — Audrey Hepburn
