October Garden Goals

As the arboreal leaves turn vibrant reds and oranges, some of us may be noticing a browning in our backyard gardens as tomato and pepper plants are coming to the end of their season. Depending on the weather, October can be an ideal time in Ohio to keep giving your garden a little bit more love and attention. And set your gaze on next season's success!

Fall garden basics:

• Clean up and remove dying foliage.
• Remove green tomatoes from the plants and allow to ripen (Can place in brown paper bag)
• Harvest fall crops like beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kale, and leeks.
• Plant spring-blooming bulbs.
• Plant cool-season annuals. (Cover on nights when a frost is expected)
• Plant trees and shrubs.
• Collect and dry seed
• Get your soil tested and add amendments as needed (Warren County SWCD sells basic and organic soil test kits)
• .Amend your soil with a dressing of compost
• Turn your compost pile.
• Use your garden debris and leaves to start a new compost pile.

These steps will help you prepare your garden for the coming winter dormancy.  Other steps you can take include pruning back appropriate perennials, mulching your leaves to use as free fertilizer, and planting a cover crop to suppress weeds, manage soil erosion, help build and improve soil fertility and quality, control diseases and pests, and promote biodiversity.
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​Gardening is a wonderful way to connect with the outdoors and provide local sustenance, And by following conservation gardening techniques, you can maximize your garden yield while working in harmony with the local environment!