October in the Garden – 2023 Edition

Rejoice, Lakeway gardeners! October is officially here, bringing desperately needed autumn rains next week and a welcome break from the oppressive summer heat. We can finally head back outside to garden with renewed enthusiasm. Even though Travis County is still in a state of exceptional drought (as of 9/28/23), we can have a successful fall garden with a little extra planning and care.

Fall is the perfect time to plant perennials, trees, shrubs, vines, and ground covers in Central Texas. New stocks of perennials and grasses are available at local nurseries, so plant this month before frost arrives. Spring-blooming bulbs can also be planted now. And if you’re a veggie gardener, fall is a great time to plant your garden. Many gardeners find that fall gardens are more productive than spring gardens in our area. Check out the Veggie Planting Calendar to get started.

Below we have many more helpful garden tips for your October to-do list. You can also visit the Lakeway Garden Club for even more fall garden tips and tricks. Our Events Calendar showcases many local or online classes and special events happening this fall. And as always, happy gardening!

October Garden Tips

Flowers to Plant

• Alyssum, Sweet, Calendula, Centaurea, Dusty Miller, Johnny Jump Up, Larkspur, Nasturtium, Pansies (mid October), Poppies, Snapdragon, Sweet Pea

Seeds to Sow

• Beets
• Carrots
• Fava Beans
• Greens – cool season
• Leeks (early-mid Oct)
• Onions – bulbing
• Onions – bunching, multiplying
• Peas – English, snow, snap (early Oct)
• Radishes
• Turnips

Things to Transplant

• Artichokes (early – mid Oct)
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Garlic
• Shallots
• Strawberries

Things to Sow or Transplant

• Asian Greens
• Collards
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Lettuce (mid-late Oct)
• Mustard
• Spinach (mid- late Oct)
• Swiss Chard

October Garden To-Dos

Plant all trees, shrubs, and perennials

Fall is the best season for planting in Central Texas! Plant all landscape plants, and sow winter cover crops in any unplanted veggie beds. New stocks of perennials and grasses are available at local nurseries, so plant this month before frost arrives.

Keep an eye on the weather

As temperatures fall, water evaporation will begin to slow. Monitor your irrigation and reduce schedule by 1/3 until fall rains arrive. Monitor weather for freezes, prepare for frost protection or start to move containers indoors.

Sow spring wildflower seeds

October is the best month to plant wildflower seeds. You will get a higher rate of germination and healthier plants by sowing seed in a prepared site. Scalp any existing grasses and remove the clippings so the seeds can make direct contact with the soil. Keep the site lightly moist with short, frequent waterings until the seedlings are about 1″ tall, then switch to less frequent, deeper waterings until healthy roots are established.

Time to resume fertilizing

Feed existing asparagus, strawberries, and other cool-weather veggies and annuals with a balanced organic fertilizer. Solid fertilizer can be scratched into the soil surface at the beginning of the month, or liquid fertilizers can be applied once a week while watering. Resume fertilizer routines for plants, if needed, and according to soil test results. Fertilize trees and shrubs to encourage root growth, water well, then replenish mulch.

Stockpile leaves to use as mulch

Don’t waste your money on buying bags of mulch at the store! Recycle, repurpose and reuse all the fallen leaves in your yard. Run over fallen leaves with the lawnmower, then use the shredded material as mulch for perennials.

Keep an eye out for pests

Caterpillars may become active again. Monitor plants for holes and droppings. Control by picking them off or spraying with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).

Save money at HEB by growing exotic vegetables

Consider getting the most value from your garden by growing vegetables that cost a premium at the grocery store. For example, Romanesco broccoli costs twice that of regular white cauliflower, yet it is easy to grow and an eye catching addition to any vegetable garden.

Lawn logic

Add compost to your lawn. October is the last month to add sod, so be prepared to water according to temperature and weather. Overseeding is not recommended except for very high traffic areas (like dog runs.) The overseeded species can stress the warm-season grasses and reduces the health of the entire lawn.

Plant spring-blooming, naturalizing bulbs

Some bulbs require refrigeration and have to be replanted every year, but naturalizing bulbs are well-suited to our soils and climate. Anemones, oxblood lilies, spider lilies, grape muscari, and many types of narcissus have been gracing Austin homesteads for well over a hundred years, and continue to thrive today. They’ll return year after year, increase in number, and require virtually no care. Dig and store caladium bulbs when foliage dies.

Plant garlic

Garlic is a kitchen staple, good companion plant, and easy to grow. Soft neck garlic is better suited for our area, and is best planted in October and November. Shallots, a cousin of garlic and onions are planted here in September and October. Soil preparation is similar for both, and you can read more on the Natural Gardener’s Garlic and Shallots planting guide (PDF).

Cut back all Tropical Milkweed this month

Scientists are still debating the long term effects of non-native tropical milkweed on the monarch population. If you have tropical milkweed growing in your Central Texas garden, we strongly advise cutting the plant back sometime in October. New tropical milkweed transplants will not be available for sale again until next spring.

Garden Tips courtesy of The Natural Gardener and Texas AgriLife Extension.