October 

Plant

• ​ Lily bulbs should be planted as soon as they arrive.
• Plant trees and shrubs (but not magnolia, holly,  and other broadleaf evergreens)
• Daffodils bulbs can be planted.
• October is a great month to plant and transplant boxwood.
• ​Plant paperwhite bulbs in pebbles and water up to the base for your indoor enjoyment.

Light Pruning and Chores

• Cut phlox and lilies to the ground.
• No need to prune established shrubs and plants in the fall.
• Water newly planted trees and shrubs if there is no rain. ​ 

Fertilize and Mulch

• Mulching beds improves soil texture and helps the bed retain moisture during dry spells and insulates during cold spells. 
  
• Pine needles make excellent mulch. ​

Chores

• Divide and transplant overgrown perennials. ​
• Clean clay pots for storage once the weather cools​.  
• Weed, edge and tidy flower beds.

Tips:  

• ​A ripe apple placed in a closed container with green tomatoes will encourage the tomatoes to turn red.  
• Clean your tools when you finish with one plant and before you move to the next.  
• Wear gloves for all of your gardening and yard chores;  protect your skin from sun, dirt, bugs, and poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac and other plant toxins.  ​

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Thanks to Suzanne Aiello who compiled these tips for the Dolley Madison Garden Club.