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OCTOBER Autumn; the month that counts before winter sets in. Getting as many gardening tasks done before the snow comes helps lessen the load of work to be done in the colder winter months and in the Spring. ALWAYS let the weather be your guide, and use this garden calendar as a simple reminder as to what needs to be done in your garden this month. SOIL - If needed; and haven't already done so, this is a good time to do a Soil Test to find out the soil's pH in your garden beds. Try to test every couple of years to see if there is a change in the soil's pH. Make adjustments necessary to improve the quality of the soil by following the soil test recommendations. - Add garden compost (composted humus), and leaf mould if needed. ANNUALS / BEDDING PLANTS -Finish bringing in tender annuals indoors that you want to winter over. - Stop fertilizing - Remove weeds before they go to seed. -Finish removing or cut back annuals that are finished blooming. -Complete mulch flower beds. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Water thoroughly when needed. PERENNIALS -Complete transplanting perennials that are in containers into the garden. -Finish division and transplanting of perennials. -Finish cutting back perennials that are done blooming. -Stop fertilizing. -Finish bringing in tender perennials indoors. - Continue staking perennials that need it., and ones that have become in need of support. - Remove weeds before they go to seed. -Complete mulching flower beds. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Water thoroughly before winter months. BULBS -Finish planting Spring flowering Bulbs. -Dig up and store tender Bulbs. - Remove spent leaves and blooms from bulbs that have become yellow. - If needed, weed and mulch flower beds. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Water thoroughly when needed.   HERBS - Keep pinching tips of annual herbs to encourage new growth. -Finish cutting back herbs. - Remove weeds before they go to seed. -Complete mulching herb garden. -Continue cutting herbs for storage and cooking. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. CLIMBERS - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Water thoroughly when needed. TREES / SHRUBS -Stop pruning. -Finish planting new trees and shrubs. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Give all trees and shrubs a good watering before the winter months. CONTAINERS -Finish transplanting any perennials that you want to keep from the containers to the garden bed. - Stop fertilizing. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. - Water thoroughly when needed. VEGETABLES -If you live in a warmer location you can restart your vegetable garden now. - Continue to eliminate weeds before they go to seed. - Remove weeds before they go to seed. -Complete mulching vegetable garden. - Complete the harvesting of your vegetable garden. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Water thoroughly when needed. FRUITS - Finish harvesting apples and plums, and any other fruit. -Clean up any fallen or rotten fruit. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Always water thoroughly before the winter months. LAWNS -Finish seeding and sodding lawns.     -If you haven't already done so fertilize lawns to encourage healthy strong growth. -Continue to rake and collect leaves to add to the compost pile. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Always water thoroughly and deeply before the winter months. GARDENING FUN -Finish up harvesting and saving your own seeds from the garden. Read about collecting and saving seeds here. - Enter a contest at Flower Garden News today! Click here for contest details.   - Use these free printable photos for your own personal use. Use in crafts, framed pictures, journaling, decoupage, scrapbooking, and for screen savers or backgrounds for your own computer, and more.   GARDEN JOURNALING - Don't forget to take a before picture of your yard and gardens. Put photos in your garden journal. It is a great way to keep records to see how much your garden has grown and changed. - Keep those seed packets and plant tags in your garden journals for future reference. Great source of plant care information. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS - Always have a look around to see what is in need of repair. Check arbors, trellises, fences, stakes, walkways, planters, and anything else you may have in your garden and yards. -Finish putting away garden ornaments and lawn furniture. -Clean and refill bird feeders and bird baths. GARDEN TOOLS - If you haven't already done so, retrieve any tools you have sent out for repairs. Set the lawnmower blade back to summer cutting height.   I hope you have found a reminder that was useful for you and your garden. Happy planting! Click here to go back to the month by month garden calendar.