October | Monthly Guide
Hey flower friends!
October is here, and that means it's time to dive into all the garden prep for next season. I love this time of year because it’s when we really set the stage for those beautiful spring blooms! At Maple Street Farmstand, I’m busy cleaning up beds, tucking in perennials, and—one of my favorite things—planting spring bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and alliums. There's something so exciting about getting those bulbs in the ground, knowing they'll pop up and surprise us when winter’s finally over. Let’s talk all things October garden prep and make sure we’re ready for a gorgeous flower season next year!
Here’s my to-do list:
Before first killing frost:
Plant spring bulbs including
Perennial Tulip bulbs for landscaping
Daffodil, Allium, Crocus bulbs for landscaping
Annual Tulip bulbs for flower production
Cut back / prune flowering perennials
Peonies, Hydrangea, Roses
Prune fruit and berry plants
Peach, Blueberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Plum
Mulch garden beds
Prepare new raised beds for veggies & fill with leaf matter ahead of winter
Label and photograph dahlias
Trim border trees to max sun exposure on growing area
Insulate young and tender plants
Hydrangea, feverfew, delphinium
After the first killing frost:
Cut back annuals and amend soil
Create label and code sheet for dahlia varieties
Dig, Split and store dahlia tubers
Note-worthy purchases:
It was prime day, so I purchased a temp-adjustable mini fridge. I plan to use this for dahlia storage this winter, and to store tulips and peonies to extend flower sales in the spring.
In Vermont the first few frosts are usually followed by a burst of warm temps. I have been using frost blankets to hold onto the remaining Cosmos, Zinnias, and Dahlias.
