October Gardening In Soperton

Written By Soperton's "Gardening Guru"

Autumn may signal the end of the gardening season in more northern climates, but in our area, Zone 8, there is still work to be done in our gardens. But with cooler weather, this is just pure pleasure.

This is a special time to celebrate pumpkins. Whether you grow your own or visit a produce stand, there is nothing more wonderful than surrounding your home with pumpkins, colorful gourds, and sprays of leaves and berries. You can extend your pumpkins' display time by coating them lightly with acrylic or varnish. The best time to harvest pumpkins is when the vines dry up naturally. Leave about three to four inches of stem on the pumpkin when you harvest it. They keep well in a dry, well-ventilated area at a temperature of 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit.

To get more blooms from your annual flowers, continue to pick the flowers as they fade. This practice will allow the plant's energy to be used in making new blooms instead of setting seed. This is especially true of coleus. Keep the blooms picked off and the plants will stay bushier and more shapely. The coleus have been spectacular this year in size and color. I will remember this when it is time to plant flowers next spring.

Avoid heavy pruning of plants and shrubs in early fall. Heavy pruning will force new growth that will be susceptible to cold weather injury in winter.

For fragrance in your garden at this time of year, there is no finer shrub than the tea olive, or Osmanthus. It is beginning to bloom on the shrubs just off my patio and is a wonderful accompaniment to my morning coffee.

There are many perennials in bloom in gardens around Soperton. Perennials are so rewarding because they show up year after year with a minimum of work. Blanket flowers or Gaillardia, Mexican sage, pineapple sage, and the many kinds of sunflowers are but a few that do well in our area. And, of course, the chrysanthemums are just beginning to bloom. I have had very good luck planting seeds of Indian Summer Rudbeckia, a perennial that can be planted in the fall for summer bloom.

Spring bulbs to plant this month include Narcissi of the Paper White variety, Soleil d'Or and Chinese Sacred Lily varieties, as well as varieties of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.

Roses that are lightly pruned now, have their faded flowers regularly removed, and are fertilized, sprayed, and watered regularly should bear a superior fall crop of blooms.

See you outside.