October is when Michigan gardens need some extra attention before the cold sets in. A few smart steps now can save you a lot of work later.
I’ve made the mistake of skipping fall prep, and trust me, spring cleanup was not fun. Here are the things you’ll want to tackle in your garden this month.
1. Plant Spring Bulbs
Fall is prime time to tuck tulips, daffodils, and crocuses into Michigan soil. The cool ground helps bulbs establish roots before winter sets in, ensuring a vibrant spring display when snow melts.
Aim for planting at least 6 inches deep, and add bone meal to the hole for better blooms. Michigan gardeners often find that squirrel-resistant varieties like daffodils and alliums fare best.
2. Harvest Root Vegetables
Don’t leave those carrots, beets, and potatoes languishing in the cold Michigan ground! Gently loosen soil with a garden fork before pulling to prevent breakage and damage.
A light frost actually improves the flavor of many root vegetables by converting starches to sugars. Michigan gardeners know that waiting until after the first light frost often yields the sweetest harvest.
3. Clean Garden Beds
Removing dead plants and debris eliminates hiding spots for pests and disease. Michigan winters are tough enough without giving garden problems a head start for next year!
Focus especially on vegetable beds and areas where disease was present. Many Michigan gardeners compost healthy plant material but discard diseased plants in municipal yard waste to prevent spreading problems.
4. Protect Tender Perennials
Michigan’s harsh winters can damage borderline-hardy plants like roses, hydrangeas, and some perennial herbs. Adding 2-3 inches of mulch around plant bases creates insulation against freeze-thaw cycles.
For extra protection, surround special plants with chicken wire cages filled with leaves. Many Michigan gardeners swear by this method for helping marginally hardy plants survive our brutal winter temperatures.
5. Divide Overcrowded Plants
Fall is perfect for splitting hostas, daylilies, and irises that have become too dense. Dividing rejuvenates plants and gives you free new specimens to expand your Michigan garden landscape.
Use a sharp spade to separate clumps, ensuring each division has adequate roots. Michigan’s autumn rain usually provides enough moisture to help these divisions establish before winter dormancy sets in.
6. Collect Seeds
Gathering seeds from favorite flowers and vegetables saves money and preserves plants adapted to your Michigan microclimate. Look for dried seedheads on marigolds, zinnias, and heirloom vegetables.
Store collected seeds in paper envelopes in a cool, dry place. Michigan gardeners often swap locally-adapted seeds at community exchanges, creating gardens uniquely suited to our state’s growing conditions.
7. Plant Garlic
October is ideal for planting garlic in Michigan gardens. Break bulbs into individual cloves and plant pointy-end up, about 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart in rich soil.
Mulch heavily with straw after the ground freezes. Michigan winters provide the perfect cold period that garlic needs to develop properly, resulting in larger, more flavorful bulbs when harvested next summer.
8. Rake Leaves Strategically
Instead of bagging all those fallen leaves, put them to work in your Michigan garden. Shredded leaves make excellent mulch for beds and borders, protecting plant roots through winter freezes.
Create leaf mold by piling leaves in an unused corner. Michigan gardeners know this decomposed leaf matter becomes black gold for garden soil after a year or two of breaking down naturally.
9. Clean and Store Tools
Extend the life of your garden tools by giving them proper October attention. Remove caked-on dirt, sharpen blades, and oil wooden handles to prevent cracking in Michigan’s dry winter air.
Drain gas from power equipment before storage. Many Michigan gardeners hang tools rather than storing them on concrete floors, as moisture can cause rusting during our long, damp winters.
10. Plant Cover Crops
Sowing winter rye or clover in empty vegetable beds protects soil from erosion during Michigan’s wet fall and spring seasons. These green manures also suppress weeds and add organic matter when turned under next spring.
Broadcast seeds and lightly rake them in. Michigan vegetable gardeners find that cover crops significantly improve soil structure and fertility, leading to better harvests in the following growing season.