The Gardener’s Guide on What to Do in October:

• Harvest most fruits before frost. Check for diseases and pests. See HGIC’s October Fruit Tips for details.
  • Stink bug trap – Virginia Tech. A cheap and easy stink bug trap from Virginia Tech  (Video)
• Continue removing diseased leaves. Put diseased leaves, pesticide-laden grass clippings, and weed seeds out for recycling (not in your compost pile). See HGIC’s October Lawn Tips for more details.
• Mulch or compost healthy leaves. See HGIC’s soil and mulch compost October tips for details.
  • Mulch Problems article (PDF)
  • Wavyleaf Basketgrass – Invasive Species – Wildlife and Heritage Service – Be careful of spreading this invasive grass. (Maryland Department of Natural Resources)
• There’s still time to have vegetable garden and landscape soils tested.
  • Cover Crops – Protect and Improve Your Soil
  • Delving into the world of Asian vegetables in a suburban plot
    Try some cool-season vegetables.  (Washington Post)
  • See HGIC’s October Vegetable Tips for more information.
• Trees and Shrubs:
  • Transplant trees when leaves begin to change color.
  • Water slowly and deeply if weather is very dry.
  • Watch for Voles, sawfly, fall webworm, spidermites, caterpillars, leafminers, adelgids, scale, aphids, borers, and bagworms. See HGIC’s October Trees and Shrubs Tips for details.
  • Insect diversity decreases in gardens with non-native plants, study shows. Native trees are better for insect diversity than non-native trees. (ScienceDaily.com)
• Ready amaryllis, Christmas cactus, and poinsettia for holiday blooming.
  • Fall Houseplants: All plants should be by now! Watch for spidermites, mealybug, scale, aphids, whitefly.  See HGIC’s October Houseplant Tips and October Indoor/Outdoor Insect Tips for details.
• Ornamental Flower Tips:
  • Attracting Wildlife in your backyard
  • With a hint of autumn in the air, you may be thinking about bulbs. Here are some tips on Bulbs and more. (University of Illinois Extension)
  • Unexpected Fall-Planted Bulbs to Try. It’s time to go beyond tulips, daffodils, and crocus. Try these fall-planted bulbs to add some new and unusual blooms to your garden next spring.
  • How to plant bulbs creatively, with chanticleer’s jonathan wright – A Way To Garden. (Bulb planting time!  A Way To Garden)
  • USDA Blog » New Guide Helps Citizens Customize Their Gardens for Native Bees.
  • 20 Inspiring And Creative Gardening Ideas (Home Design, Garden & Architecture Blog Magazine)
  • The Most Beautiful Place in Each State. Brookside Gardens is chosen as the most beautiful place in Maryland.(Thrillist.com)
  • 10 Places to See our Beautiful Fall Foliage. Great places to see fall foliage in Montgomery County. (Visit Montgomery.com)
  • 16 Beautiful Places in Maryland You Didn’t Know Existed (Thrillist.com)

From “What to Do & When,” prepared by Frederick County Master Gardeners and University of Maryland Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC).

Upcoming Events

October 7th: UMD Extension Encourages Residents to Get Walking on October 7 (University of Maryland Extension). UMD Extension encourages residents to get walking on October 7.

October Calendar

Check our October Calendar for upcoming events including the Wings of Fancy Butterfly exhibit at Brookside Garden (Voted most beautiful place in Maryland!), Day to Serve Volunteer Opportunities, and more! The calendars will be updated weekly so check for updates.

October 2015

“Wings of Fancy” Live Butterfly & Caterpillar Exhibit

October 3 – October 26

Brookside Gardens,

1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902
Wheaton, 20902 United States

+ Google Map

Wednesday, July 1 through Sunday, October 25, 2015 10am-4pm Daily | Brookside Gardens Fees: Ages 0-2: Free | Ages 3-12: $5 | Ages 13 & up: $8

Find out more »