Before the first frost O C TO B E R I N T H E G A R D E N
October is here and with that comes the cold! Here are a few tips to keep your garden alive and thriving during the fall and winter months. Check weather forecast daily for frost warnings. Cover plants with cardboard or other material (except plastic) during frost. Wait until air warms to remove cover.
Use a frost blanket for food crops or cutting gardens to extend growing season up to one month. Cover paths between vegetable beds with leaves or mulch to deter weeds next spring.
Continue watering new additions to the landscape that were planted within the last 12 months. Many plants die from drought during their first winter. To preserve root crops and extend gravest up to 30 days remove green leaves and cover with straw, soil or mulch. For winter greens like kale and chard, protect them from the rain and wind by pushing heavy wire into the ground to make hoops over the plants.
To help prevent slugs, clean up their common hiding areas such as weed piles, boards, or stacked pots.
Start cutting perennials. Leave 3-inch stubs to catch leaves for insulation.
Cover paths between vegetable beds with leaves or mulch to deter weeds next spring.
Using low tunnels or cloches can extend your harvest of fall crops for weeks to months.