What To Do In Your Southern California Garden In October

As a landscape designer in the Santa Clarita Valley, I like to provide some help for your gardens so now that the weather is starting to feel wonderful; bye, bye 100 degrees - hello Fall!  Here is  a list of things you'll want to take care of in your garden this month.

Have fun!


If you would like help beautifying your life, think about creating a garden with me. You can call me at 661-917-3521, contact me via email at julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net or visit my website

Chores for your Southern California Garden - October

October is a great time to plant and do chores in Southern California! The weather is moderating a little, it’s not so blazing hot in the valleys but it is still warm enough so that the plants can really settle in and they can grow, grow, grow.

Here is a list of chores for you to fill your weekends with, because this is doubtlessly the start of the best months to be outdoors.



1. Divide Your Iris - If you haven’t divided your irises in the past 2-4 years, this is a great time to do that. You can plant your new divisions (and new plant if you want) because although September is optimal – October ain’t half bad either. Check out my post How to Care for Iris – to get all the details.



2. Plant New Plants - Love the idea of a year round (or three season) garden? This is a great time to buy and plant fall and winter blooming perennials and shrubs like Sedum Brilliant, Caryopteris, Echinacea, clivia, some ceanothus, nandinas (colorful leaves and berries) and more!



3. Cool Season Vegetable Tip - You can still be sowing your cool season vegetable seeds and as the month progresses you can plant 6 packs and 4” pots of those same veggies. I’m planning on planting lot of bok choy this year, because last year mine was FANTASTIC. You can also plant broccoli, kale, and lettuces… to name a few!



4. Colorful Autumn Trees - Keep your eyes open for trees that display fall color, they are starting to show their “true colors” so if you want a specific color autumn display October and November are good times to buy and plant those deciduous trees. Since your garden is yours, you can truly create a sanctuary by picking the plants (and colors) that you love!

5. Prune Your Trees - This month is also a nice time to prune your trees, it is cooling off so if you prune now and reduce your branches and therefore leaves, you will have less to rake as they fall. (this is not Oak pruning time)




6. California Native Plants - This is an excellent time to plan your native garden, the end of the month is the start of the native planting season because the fall and winter are the best time to plant them. You grab the winter water that comes around and you don’t plan them in the hot, hot heat.



7. Cool Season Annuals - Peruse your local nursery, the cool season annuals are starting to show up, including ornamental kale (one of my favorites for containers). Annuals don’t make up a very large part of my garden style, but they sure can add punch to a garden that is maturing



8. Beautiful Blooming Bulbs - You can continue to plant winter and spring blooming bulbs. The nurseries have a nice selection right now, as do online sources. They make an excellent addition to a container as well – and if you’re memory isn’t what it used to be will become an element of surprise when they burst into bloom.

9. Plant Ground Cover – Ground cover grows quite quickly during the month of October, it is warm enough but not too hot so it is easier to regulate your water and the plants tend not to dry out too easily. Look around to see where you could use some ground cover.

10. Prune Fall Flowering Plants – shrubs, and vines can be cut back now once they have finished blooming. The pruning will encourage new growth and flowers for next year.



11. Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins! – If you haven’t grown your own, it’s time to shop for unusual pumpkins, squash and gourds! They make an excellent decoration throughout the holidays. Tami & I had such fun at our event a couple weeks ago talking about decorating. If you would like a copy of our presentation, please feel free to add your name to our Harmonious Home Team event list. We’ll be happy to send you the PowerPoint version of our presentation.

12. Fertilize cacti & succulents – it is a nice time to give a shot of fertilizer to blooming and growing succulents and cacti both in pots and in the ground.

13. Notice the Shadows - Take a little time during this time of the year to notice how the shadows are changing around your landscape. Notice what is getting sun and what is getting shade, it might shed some light on why some of your plants are not thriving. You may not realize what little sun they are really getting during the winter months, and by noticing you might decide to transplant a few.




14. Houseplants could use some TLC – Your indoor plants can use a little fertilizer, a spritz of water or maybe even a few hours outdoors in the sun or dappled sun (depending on the plant) to allow it to soak up some light for chlorophyll production.



Join Tami Smight and Julie Molinare at our Complimentary Design Seminar on October 9, 2011 at the Rose Society of Santa Clarita and learn how to “Make Your Garden Sing!” If you want a reminder of our event, as well as a copy of our Power Point Presentation, “How to Create Fall Harvest Splendor” please visit Harmonious Home Team.com and sign up now!

What To Do In Your Southern California Garden In October

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler, so you need to make the most of your gardening time. Remember October is a WONDERFUL time to plant in Southern California, so take advantage of it. Here is a list of some things that you should be doing in your garden now.



The new “cooler” season annuals are starting to become available (bet they just loved our heat wave last week) you can chose from a nice selection for beautiful fall color.



Divide Irises (you only need to divide every 2-4 years) and plant new ones normally I’d say September but… it got really hot near the end and… I forgot to remind you! Take a look at the post How to Care for Iris for more detailed information.



If you are working on a three season or year round garden, it’s a good time to buy and plant fall and winter blooming perennials, shrubs and yes…even trees.

Think about planting California Natives, fall and winter are a great time for our natives if you get them in now they will benefit from any winter water we get.

It’s time to continue planting bulbs – both winter and spring blooming. If you haven’t purchased them yet… get going. Online or in the nursery there are plenty out there waiting for you. Here are two great online resources: Vanveen Bulbs and Brent and Becky's Bulbs.

You should prune your fall flowering vines and shrubs after they have finished blooming.

You can sow your cool season vegetable seeds now, and in the next couple of weeks put in those seedlings that you can find at the nursery.

Fertilizing time for your cacti and succulents – those that are blooming or growing will benefit from a nice fertilization.



Plant groundcover! This is one of the two best months for ground cover in our area. The months of March and October groundcover really take off in. Check your yard and see if you need to fill in anywhere or see if you just want to rip out some thirsty lawn.



Watch for trees with fall color. Over the next two months you will start seeing leaves change, which signals the perfect time for you to select the tree of your dreams. By selecting trees during this time of the year, you will know what color your tree will turn. There is a large range of yellows, oranges, and reds and by selecting now you can find the colors that speak to you. Remember it’s your yard, make it truly your sanctuary.

Keep an eye on the shadows in your landscape. As the days grow shorter the trees and even your house will cast longer deeper shadows, take note so that as you are planning your garden you don’t plant sun lovers in the wrong spot.



Buy Pumpkins! If you haven’t grown yours this year, you need to go shopping. A trip to the pumpkin farm with the kids or even Trader Joe’s can yield some real beauties. They make a great long lasting decoration for your porch, indoors and… don’t forget that pumpkin pie. Anyone have a great recipe? Send it to me and I’ll post it! (With a link to your website of course)

Take a look at your houseplants, I bet they could use a little bit of fertilizer too. Just because your plants are inside, doesn’t mean they don’t need a little bit of TLC. Wash off leaves, with a soft cloth, give them a little spritz from a water bottle – give them much need air circulation and tell them how much you like them! If any of your plants are looking a little peeked, it is still warm enough to put them outside for a bit of time in dappled shade (or deeper if it’s a no sun kinda plant.) They will thank you. Note: please don’t put Ficus benjamina in direct sun – you will BURN their leaves!

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