Things to do in your yard and garden in October
October is here and I am definitely glad to see the cooler temperatures. There are so many benefits to autumn in Florida like the slowdown of lawn growth (no more weekly mows!), increased growth and flowering for some heat-stressed plants, and the opportunity to take full advantage of our cool season vegetable gardens while most of the country preps for winter. Here are some tips to help your garden throughout the month of October.
Fall color for Florida
Being a transplant from the Northeast, I do honestly miss autumn, mainly the fall foliage. I spent most of my fall and winter afternoons in the woods near my family farm and the sight of the tree color change is something I wish I could see every year. While Florida does not offer the same display, there are some plants that can give us a nice fall color pop in October and November.
First of all, a few trees that give great fall color can be added to our landscape such as red maple, sassafras, and sweet gum. Oaks, hickories, pears, and even bald cypress can also give a little autumn pop. Be sure to give these trees space to grow and provide them with care and they can give some reds, yellows, and purples in future autumns. Additionally, some shrubs can also accomplish this effect like oakleaf hydrangea. One shrub that I am growing for the first time this year that I think fits into the fall color exceptionally well is roselle. This relative of hibiscus and okra produces dark red seed pods that are edible (see https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/mv126_ for more information).
Finally, planting in fall annuals with yellows, oranges, and reds can add that fall color to your landscape as well as the standard garden chrysanthemums. This contrasts well with other cool-weather annuals like pansies, dianthus, and ornamental cabbage and kale.
Fall vegetable gardening
Speaking of cabbage and kale, October is one of the best months for vegetable gardening in Florida. Plant cool-season species like cabbage, beets, broccoli, and spinach. It is also finally looking like it is cool enough for lettuce as well. One plant that you have to get in the ground soon before it’s too late is strawberries. Set them in the garden or in large containers and water daily until established. For more information visit http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs403.
Your neighbor's trees and you
While not a specific October topic, I did receive a call into our office that had me thinking about fall. This was about a neighbor's sycamore trees near a client's yard that cast shade on the lawn and tended to drop leaves heavily every year and the client wanted to know if there was anything they could do to curb the issue. The quick answer is that in Florida you do have the right to conduct any pruning on trees overhanging your property line. Property lines in Florida extend straight up into the air, so that is your space. However, I always suggest that you speak with the neighbor first and also to not remove so much that it may harm the tree. This is where hiring a licensed arborist may come in handy (find one in your area at www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist). Also, never cross a property line to do any tree removal, plant clearing, or herbicide applications as these can lead to legal issues.
The line of communication you build with your neighbors may help to avoid any disagreements. In the past, I have had conversations with my own neighbors about removing a tree from my yard that provided shade to them because it was invasive and also about some issues I saw in one of their trees that could have created a hazard for our homes.
Things to plant in October
Vegetables: Beets, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Collards, Cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, Kohlrabi, Mustard, Onions, Radish, Rutabaga, Spinach, and Turnips.
Herbs: Basil, Dill, Garlic, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Marjoram, Mexican Tarragon, Parsley, Sage, and Thyme.
Annuals: Dianthus, Pansy, Petunia, Shasta daisy, Snapdragon, Flowering Kale, and Flowering Cabbage.
Bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, or corms: African lily, Amaryllis, Aztec lily, Calla lily, Iris, Kaffir lily, Lily, Walking Iris, Spider lily, Pineapple lily, Star-of-Bethlehem, and Zephyr lily
Wayne Hobbs is an extension agent in environmental horticulture for Clay County.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: October is a good time to plant cool-season vegetables
