The October Garden

It’s time to get the garden ready for it’s long winters rest. This month is all about getting your garden ready for winter. It’s an excellent time to work on your soil. Start by removing dead and dying annuals and throwing them on the compost pile.

It’s a great time to have your soil tested to see what’s lacking. You can add soil amendments this time of year by lightly working them into the soil. Let the winter freezes and thaws work the amendments into the soil for you. What isn’t worked in over the winter will be worked in when you plant again in the spring.

Bring In Your Favorite Plants for the Winter

It’s time to bring in any potted plants herbs or flowers you want to overwinter inside. Before I bring in my plants I give them a spray down with insecticidal soap, or a mixture of Fels Naptha soap and water. You can find Fels Naptha soap in the laundry aisle at many grocery store. It comes in a bar, use a cheese grater to grate about a tablespoon to mix with water in a small spray bottle. Shake up the mixture until the soap dissolves.

You can use this mixture to spray your plants before you bring them in for the winter. Spray the leaves on the top and bottom. Set them in a warm sunny spot to dry, then bring them inside to place in a warm sunny window for the winter.