Your Garden in October
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If you are planning on making any changes to your garden in the way of moving or adding plants, now is the best time. With the exception of tropical plants that prefer to be planted in warmer weather, October is the ideal time to plant in our area. The ground is still warm which will encourage good root growth, but the air is cooler so the plants won’t be under too much stress. Soon the rainy season will start that will help the plants become established before the new growth cycle in the spring. Take into consideration the eventual size of any large shrubs to avoid crowding in the future and make sure they will be getting the correct amount of sun to avoid problems. Most plants that are plagued with pest and disease problems are simply planted in the wrong place or climate.
Continue to clean up and cut back perennials that bloomed all summer. Remove debris under plants that can be harboring disease or insects. Adding a layer of mulch now will keep the soil warmer longer and maintain the moisture from the rainy days ahead. Pinch back perennials that bloom year round such as geraniums.
Divide clumping plants this month such as daylilies, iris and ginger. Large dense plants such as dietes (fortnight lilies or African iris) and Bird of Paradise can be divided with a shovel or even a chainsaw if necessary. Divide naked ladies this month. Not all plants need to be divided, and some even prefer to have crowded roots, such as clivia and agapanthus. They can be divided to make more plants, but they will live and bloom for years without ever being divided.
It is okay to fertilize perennials this month to help them overwinter and prepare for spring growth. Continue to water until the rainy season starts, especially during Santana winds when plants are under great stress.