The month of October is a good time to fertilize your lawns

Fertilize your lawn in October.

If the lawn is in good shape, use a winterizer fertilizer. They areusually clearly labeled. The most common formulas are 18-6-12 or15-5-10.

If the lawn is in tough shape, because of the drought, use a mild organic fertilizer like Milorganite.

The winter weeds are germinating like gangbusters, unless youapplied a pre-emergent herbicide in August or September. Keep the weedsin control by mowing the lawn frequently.

Lawn grass responds to mowing better than the weeds and will eventually take over, if water is available.

This is a good time to seed wildflowers and could be a greatwildflower year, because the vacant lots and pastures are not loadedwith organic material. Buy one of the wildflower seed mixes at yourfavorite nursery or from the internet. Wild Seed Farms has a growingarea and retail outlet in Fredericksburg.

They also sell on the internet.

In the flower garden, plant snapdragons, petunias, stocks, dianthus,calendula in the sun. They do best if planted as transplants.

Late in the month and in November plant pansies, primula andcyclamen. Primula and cyclamen are spectacular winter bloomers in theshade. In many neighborhoods the deer will pass up snapdragons, butthey eat the other cold weather annuals.

It is also the best time of the year to thin out your perennials.Shasta daisies, German carnations, phlox, iris, and daylilies all canbe divided.

Plant iris so the top of the rhizome is even with the soil level.Cut Shasta daisy and the other clumping perennials in pieces aboutthree by three inches and plant them about two feet apart.

The species tulips and old fashioned daffodils can be planted thismonth. They will naturalize to return every spring. Paperwhites allnaturalize, but not all the daffodils do. King Alfred is the mostpopular daffodil, but unfortunately it only lasts one season in Centraland South Texas.

Use “Golden Spector,” “Campernelle,” “Quail,” “Trevithian,” or “Peeping Tom” for long lived daffodils.

Species tulips are old fashioned short tulips.

They naturalize and can be planted without chilling. Most tulips andcertainly the largest and most colorful require six to eight weeks ofchill each year to bloom.

The best we can do is use them as an annual. Buy tulips now, chillthem for the autumn in the refrigerator and then plant them on or aboutJan. 1.

In the vegetable garden plant broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts transplants this month.

Seed carrots, lettuce, beets, rutabagas, turnips, kale, mustard and collards.

Lettuce seed cannot be buried. Prepare the soil and spread it overthe surface. Water with a gentle stream from a water wand until itreaches a large enough size to utilize drip irrigation.

Fertilize tomatoes with lawn fertilizer. About one half cup spreadover the roots every three to four weeks works well. Use seaweedextract spray as a preventative for spider mites. Use Bt to controlcaterpillars on tomatoes and cabbage related crops.

Autumn is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. The selection atnurseries is not as good as in the Spring, but there are usually salesyou can take advantage of.

October is a good time to begin feeding the birds again. Feedsunflower seeds in steel feeders with weight sensitive perches so thesquirrels and white winged doves do not eat them all.

Cardinals and many other seed eaters love sunflower seeds. Use suetfor insect eating birds and thistle for finches. Spread a little mixedseed on a low platform for Inca doves and the American sparrows.