Mario Bautista
“Now, let me see … There’s the large carpet in the main hall. Clean it! And the windows, upstairs and down. Wash them! Oh yes. And the tapestries and the draperies. Do them again! And don’t forget the garden. And scrub the terrace, sweep the halls and the stairs, clean the chimneys, and of course there’s the mending and the sewing and the laundry. Oh yes, and one more thing. See that Lucifer gets his bath.” — Lady Tremaine, the wicked stepmother
Luckily, Colorado gardeners don’t have as many chores to tackle as poor Cinderella, but there are important things to consider in October.
• It’s good time to do a soil test. The annual spring rush will be avoided, and you will have the advantage to plan over the winter months regarding how to address any issues that might have cropped up. Info at https://agsci.colostate.edu/soiltestinglab/
• In early October, stop deadheading roses and reduce water to encourage a move into dormancy.
• Throughout the month, prune dead, broken or diseased branches from trees and shrubs.
• Before a hard freeze, pick tomatoes and bring them indoors to finish ripening.
• Clean up debris and weeds to get a head start in next year’s garden.
• Collect seeds from your favorite annuals, but remember not to expect an exact replication of the current plant. Saved seeds should be stored in a cool, dry location.
• Flowers such as snapdragons, marigolds, violas, four o’clocks and cosmos are excellent reseeders. Do not cultivate the soil around these plants if more are desired next season.
• Pick pumpkins, gourds and winter squash by mid-October.
• Plant garlic now for harvesting next summer.
• Cover asparagus and rhubarb beds with 3 to 4 inches of mulch.
• Dig up and store, in a dry location, tender bulbs such as cannas, dahlias and gladiolus.
• Parsley can be dug up, divided and potted to grow in a sunny window during the winter.
• After fall harvest, Heritage raspberry stalks can be cut to the ground.
• Raking leaves is an autumn “must,” especially from the lawn. Instead of bagging them for the landfill, consider using them as mulch. They make an excellent organic addition to garden soil.
• Lawns: Fertilize your lawn mid to late October. Experts consider this the most important fertilization. If your lawn looks thin, weak or scraggly, core aeration will improve lawns that have built up thatch or that have shown signs of soil compaction.
• Lastly, don’t forget to summon your footman. Hop into your horse-drawn pumpkin carriage and plan to attend the crowning of the city’s largest pumpkin. The event is free and no reservations are required. Old Colorado City’s Pumpkins in the Park is noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 19.
Submit gardening questions to csumg2@elpasoco.com or call 719-520-7684. The in-person help desk will close for the season Tuesday; questions submitted via email will be answered remotely. Find us on Facebook at Colorado Master Gardeners – El Paso County.
